AGASSIZ, BC — An Agassiz-based manufacturer has teamed up with a Chilliwack-area First Nations community to launch a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The new facility will focus on thermal modification manufacturing, which creates wood products with augmented stability and durability, making them ideal for construction and architecture. This partnership aims to reduce PowerWood relying on old-growth wood fibre, which creates more sustainable forestry practices by incorporating underutilized tree species from second-growth forests. “This partnership with the Squiala First Nation marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” PowerWood’s president Jake Power said. …Squiala Chief David Jimmie thanked the government for their support through the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund as well as the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation programs. …PowerWood will also invest $8 million into its current Agassiz facility to “improve processing speed and facilities.”