FAYETTEVILLE, A Canadian infrastructure company announced plans Tuesday to build its first American steel manufacturing facility in Lincoln County, bringing 230 jobs and $45 million in investment to the region by late 2027.
Stella-Jones Corporation, founded in Montreal in 1992, manufactures treated wood utility poles, crossarms, steel lattice towers, and railway ties across 45 locations in North America. The new facility at Runway Centre Industrial Park in Fayetteville will manufacture steel lattice towers, the structures that carry power lines across the country. The plant addresses growing demand from utilities nationwide and marks a significant expansion of the company's existing Tennessee operations.
The announcement came from Gov. Bill Lee's office and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Deputy Governor Stuart C. McWhorter highlighted Tennessee's appeal to global manufacturers, noting that Canadian companies have created more than 4,000 jobs statewide since 2019, making Canada the state's second-largest source of foreign direct investment.
Steel lattice towers are critical infrastructure for the nation's electrical grid. By establishing manufacturing here rather than relying solely on Canadian production, Stella-Jones can reduce shipping costs and delivery times while tapping into Tennessee's industrial workforce. The Fayetteville location sits on a certified industrial site, part of the state's effort to attract manufacturers to pre-screened properties with adequate utilities and transportation access.
The facility is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2027. For Lincoln County, an area south of Maury County with a smaller industrial base than Middle Tennessee's automotive and logistics hubs, the project represents a rare opportunity for stable, skilled manufacturing employment.