Hampton Lumber will invest $225 million to build a new sawmill in Allendale County, South Carolina, marking the company’s first expansion on the U.S. East Coast and signaling a strategic shift in its national footprint.
The mill is expected to create 125 to 140 new jobs and inject new momentum into South Carolina’s forestry sector, which already contributes nearly $21 billion annually to the state’s economy. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with operations targeted to start by early 2027.
“This project is not just a business expansion—it’s a vote of confidence in South Carolina’s forestry industry and rural workforce,” said Gov. Henry McMaster, who praised the investment as a long-term economic driver for the region.
Hampton Lumber CEO Randy Schillinger credited strong support from local and state stakeholders as key to the decision. “We’re happy to join the healthy wood products industry already present in the region,” Schillinger said. “The support from the Allendale community confirmed this is the right location for us.”
The new facility adds to Hampton’s national operations and reinforces the company’s commitment to domestic forest products manufacturing. For Allendale County, a rural area with a population of under 8,000, the project represents one of the most significant industrial investments in years.
