Weyerhaeuser To Invest $1 Million In Buckhannon

The town of Buckhannon has been selected for a corporate gift that will make a big difference in the rural town of roughly 5,000 people. 

The Weyerhaeuser company announced this week that its Thrive program will invest $1 million in Buckhannon over the next several years. 

“We at Weyerhaeuser realize that we are really important to these rural economies, and the reverse is absolutely true. The rural communities are important to Weyerhaeuser’s success,” said Nancy Thompson, senior director of advocacy and philanthropy. 

“So we just want to find ways to support our rural communities, help them meet challenges and really go above and beyond what our employees are able to do through their own volunteer activities.”

About 300 people work at the wood plant there. Thompson said the funds can be used for a variety of needs including infrastructure, workforce development, attainable housing or recreation.

“Our THRIVE program is designed to really look at some of the greater challenges in our communities, a little bit bigger project or bigger investment than maybe a community is able to accomplish on its own,” she said.

Weyerhaeuser launched Thrive in 2023 to provide targeted assistance to its rural  communities. Buckhannon is the third to be selected.

“It’s really all about strengthening the communities that are important to Weyerhaeuser and we know that our jobs are important to those communities, and making sure the long term health of both is great,” Thompson said.

The specific use of funds will be determined in the coming months through discussion with residents and community leaders.