(The Center Square) – Another day, and another manufacturing record is broken in Texas. This time in Corrigan, in the piney woods of deep east Texas in Polk County.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday joined county and city leaders at the grand opening of Corrigan OSB, LLC’s newly expanding timber manufacturing facility. Once the expansion is completed, it will be the largest facility of its kind in North America.
“We are proud that Texas is home to a booming manufacturing sector,” Abbott said. “Corrigan OSB’s expanded manufacturing facility will be the largest OSB facility in all of North America. It will provide needed, high-quality building materials to Texas’ growing economy. Thanks to our strong manufacturing sector, ‘Made in Texas’ has never been a bigger brand. This $211 million expansion of this facility is an important investment in the future of Corrigan and an important piece in the economy of a bigger, better Texas.”
Corrigan OSB (Oriented Strand Board) LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Martco LLC, a parent company for timber sourcing and manufacturing that uses the RoyOMartin® trademark. The 100-year-old RoyOMartin company is one of two primary timber companies in the region.
“For more than 200 years, the city of Corrigan has been recognized for its rich and diverse timber industry. From the lush southern yellow pine forests and timber harvesters to log truck drivers and wood-manufacturing facilities, Corrigan’s economy has been and continues to be driven by the forest products industry,” the company says. “The oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing plant is completing a significant expansion that will dramatically impact the local Texas economy and help to meet the demand for high-quality, sustainable wood products.”
Abbott toured the facility and touted Texas’ economic successes before a crowd of more than 200 entrepreneurs and workers. He highlighted Texas’ top business rankings, less restrictive regulatory environment than blue states, and the fact that Fortune 500 companies continue to relocate their headquarters and move operations to Texas. Texas continues to rank as the best state for business and has for 20 years in a row.
Texas also leads the U.S. in job creation, breaking its employment records every month, The Center Square reported. Texas’ real GDP is more than double the national GDP; regions in Texas have larger economies than most countries, The Center Square reported.
There are three OSB manufacturing plants currently operated by Corrigan’s parent company, according to its website. Corrigan II produced its first board on its new multi-opening OSB line in June. Construction on the second mill began in the fall of 2021. In 2021, Corrigan OSB, LLC received a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $278,000, which included a $3,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.
In March, the City of Corrigan was officially designated the Timber Products Capital of Texas.
Joining Abbott at the event were RoyOMartin Chairman & CEO Roy Martin, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons, Polk County Commissioner Milt Purvis, Polk County Constable Ray Myers, City of Corrigan Mayor Johnna Gibson, and other business leaders and local officials.
