PJ Clark Completes Purchase of Little River Dry Kiln

PJ Clark has completed the purchase of the Little River Dry Kiln facility on Cerulean Road in Trigg County, an operation that includes 11 dry kilns, a planner/grading facility and a warehouse on 23 acres. The Cadiz operation will begin with production of kiln-dried softwood and hardwood lumber. PJ Clark will source lumber from local partners in Kentucky to be kiln dried and processed, with the final product distributed for residential construction. Company leaders expect to create 13 full-time jobs during the first year of operation, ramping up to a staff of at least 35 by 2023.

The kiln is a key component of PJ Clark’s vision to connect lumber buyers directly to the forest. The Cadiz, KY, operation will be led by General Manager Jake Wallace, who is joined by local Steve Biggs as the Director of Purchasing.

Founder and CEO Jacob Wadlington is ready to go, “Securing the kiln and getting it operationalized is a crucial step for our business. Reopening the kiln to create jobs in my hometown is really meaningful to me, and, I hope, for the people of Trigg County.”

PJ Clark’s investment and planned job creation furthers recent economic momentum in the commonwealth of Kentucky, as the state builds back stronger following the effects of the pandemic.

Back in June, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) approved a 15-year incentive agreement with PJ Clark under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $750,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $5 million and annual targets of 35 full-time, Kentucky-resident jobs paying an average hourly wage of $23 including benefits.

PJ Clark Lumber, founded in 2021 in Coppell, Texas, will serve the single family, multi-family construction, manufacturing markets. A portion of the company’s green lumber is sourced from TW Lumber Sawmill in Cadiz, which has been owned and operated by the Wadlington family for 25 years.

Source: PJ Clark Lumber, LLC