Interfor will be processing more lumber at its Adams Lake sawmill near Chase, after a big investment made recently.

The company has bought a kiln and is building a large new building to accommodate it, worth $4.3 million.

Chase CAO Joni Heinrich says any investment into the local mill is welcome news.

“That means that they’re obviously feeling that their future is relatively secure. They do employ quite a good number of people who work in Chase, and work at the Adams Lake mill.”

According to a quarterly report to shareholders, Interfor had committed to building a new kiln after buying Canfor’s cutting rights in the North Thompson, for $60 million earlier this year.

“Obviously it has a positive impact on their decision making for their future investments. The more secure their timber supply is, obviously the more they can invest in expansion or retooling, or whatever it is they need to do at the mill to make sure it’s viable into the future,” Heinrich says.

The mill is the biggest taxpayer in the Village of Chase.