Weyerhaeuser Deepens Commitment to Buckhannon with $1 Million THRIVE Investment

BUCKHANNON, WV — Weyerhaeuser is strengthening its long-standing partnership with Buckhannon, West Virginia, through a major investment aimed at supporting the community’s long-term growth and resilience.

The company announced this week that Buckhannon will receive a $1 million investment through Weyerhaeuser’s THRIVE program—a multi-year initiative designed to help rural communities grow stronger and more sustainable for generations to come. Buckhannon is the third community nationwide selected for THRIVE, which launched in 2023 to support towns closely tied to the forest products industry.

“This investment clearly demonstrates Weyerhaeuser’s commitment to Buckhannon,” said Mayor Robbie Skinner. “We’re excited and grateful to be chosen as a THRIVE community, and we look forward to working with company leaders and the residents of this great community to build a stronger and better future together.”

Weyerhaeuser has operated an engineered wood products plant in Buckhannon for more than 25 years. The facility consistently ranks among the company’s top-performing sites in terms of safety and manufacturing reliability. In addition to its Buckhannon operations, Weyerhaeuser manages more than 250,000 acres of timberlands across West Virginia and operates an oriented strand board mill in Sutton.

“Rural operating communities like Buckhannon are vital to our success and to the health of the forest products industry,” said Devin W. Stockfish, Weyerhaeuser president and CEO. “We want to ensure these communities remain great places to live, work and do business for years to come, and we’re excited to expand the positive impact of THRIVE in Buckhannon and the surrounding area.”

The $1 million investment will be distributed over several years, guided by input from local elected officials, business leaders, nonprofits, employees and community partners. Priority areas include youth education, workforce development, and other initiatives that reflect Buckhannon’s unique needs and opportunities.

“Every THRIVE community has different priorities,” said Nancy Thompson, Weyerhaeuser senior director of advocacy and philanthropy. “We’re looking forward to hearing directly from Buckhannon residents and working together to support projects that make a real and lasting impact.”

THRIVE is part of Weyerhaeuser’s broader “3 by 30 Sustainability Ambition,” which focuses on strengthening rural communities, advancing climate solutions and conserving forests. Previous THRIVE investments have been made in Zwolle, Louisiana, and Raymond, Washington. Two additional communities will be announced in the coming years.

For Buckhannon, the THRIVE investment represents more than funding—it’s a reaffirmation of a relationship built over decades and a shared vision for the future.

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