“Everyone here had some impact on this project,” Roanoke Rapids Mayor Emery Doughtie said. “Traveling up and down the road it’s been sad to look at the empty building for a long time.”

Doughtie credited Plant Manager Billy Rodgers for his work in reviving the plant. “It’s another step to progress in our county.”

Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman Vernon Bryant said, “We thank Culpeper. It really comes from the bottom of my heart. We appreciate you bringing the plant to Roanoke Rapids.”

Bryant said the company had to work through environmental issues before becoming operational and bringing 20 new jobs and a $2.7 million investment to the city. “We’re very excited and happy to have you here.”

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Jonathan Jenkins, president of the company, said, “We’re happy to be here. We thank (Halifax County Economic Development Director) Cathy Scott and the economic development group for working with us. We thank the city of Roanoke Rapids, the state and county.”

Jenkins said Rodgers assembled a team of veterans in the industry to make the opening of the facility a reality.

The company, he said, provides lumber to private and family-owned lumber yards. “The mom and pops. We’re not a lumber storage business. We’re moving this lumber. I think back to when we bought the property a lot had to happen.”

Rodgers said, “The only thing here was a shell.”

From plumbing to electrical, vandals took it out, he said. “There’s been a lot of work here.”

That work included soil borings and developing stormwater plans. “There are a handful of people with 100 years of lumber experience in that office.”

State Representative Michael Wray said, “Today is a blessed day to put the puzzle together. We thank you guys for building a dream team. It’s about a community giving back and creating jobs.”

Ronnie Locke, chair of the Halifax County Economic Development Commission, said, “Thank you all for choosing Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County.”