NEWS RELEASE |
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Date:
January 17, 2006 Contact: Steve Milauskas Devin Wanner |
phone (304) 487-1510 phone (304) 285-1596 |
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Newtown Square, PA — The USDA Forest Service Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC) entered into an agreement with businessman Robert Kincaid to lease a rough mill facility located at the center in Princeton, WVa. Kincaid will use the facility to manufacture shutter and Venetian blind components using poplar and basswood lumber. Kincaid’s new business, Accurate Millworks, Inc., will begin producing commercial products by the end of January. Accurate Millworks anticipates up to 30 new jobs in the Princeton area by the end of 2006. "Quality products will be made right here in southern West Virginia and shipped worldwide," said Kincaid. "Our company already knows the quality of West Virginia hardwoods and looks forward to working with the wood products industry here." The rough mill is a 43,000-square-foot facility, and the agreement includes the manufacturing equipment present. The WERC advertised to lease the rough mill facility in mid-2005 under a USDA Forest Service Special Use Permit. Four proposals were received and considered by an evaluation team. Under the terms of the agreement, the WERC will maintain the ability to use the rough mill for industry oriented tours, demonstrations, and research. USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Director Kathryn Maloney said, “The Wood Education and Resource Center ’s mission includes promoting and developing sustainable forest products industries in the eastern hardwood region. The location of a new wood products business in conjunction with the WERC facilities enhances local economic development and provides opportunities for enhanced educational and research activities at the center. The creation of up to 30 new jobs is a real boost to the local economy. The Forest Service is pleased that in combination with other partners, such as the West Virginia Development Office, the Development Authority of Mercer County, and the West Virginia Division of Forestry, it was able to bring this exciting opportunity to the WERC.”Kincaid has been involved in the wood products industry for more than 30 years. He joined the American Hardwood Company in 1973 and was president from 1985 until he sold the business in 1989. The company specialized in custom machining domestic and imported hardwoods and softwood lumber. During this period, Kincaid served on the Board of Directors of the National Hardwood Lumber Association for 6 years. In 1990, Kincaid started Lumber Products, Inc., a wholesale lumber distribution business that he still maintains. In 1991, Kincaid started Craftsman Millworks, Inc., in a 40,000-square-foot facility, milling basswood and poplar into wood window coverings. This successful business was sold in 1999. Currently he is a partner in WoodMart Window Coverings in Van Nuys , Calif. It is expected that the new business will fit into a cluster model of economic development centered around the WERC. This cluster concept integrates education, training, technology transfer, raw material and labor resource availability, and value-added manufacturing in order to promote sustainable and profitable resources, communities, and businesses. Industry clusters may help the U.S. hardwood industry become more globally competitive. The Wood Education and Resource Center , located in Princeton , WVa, is administered by the USDA Forest Service agency's State and Private Forestry Northeastern Area Office. The center's mission is to work with the forest products industry toward sustainable forest products production for the eastern hardwood forest region. It provides state-of-the-art training, technology transfer, networking opportunities, applied research, and information. For more information, visit www.na.fs.fed.us/ea/werc/werc.shtm or contact WERC Director Steve Milauskas or Deputy Director Ed Cesa at (304) 487-1510.
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