MILLVILLE, NJ-DuBell Lumber Co., a Medford, NJ-based retailer with several stores in South Jersey, is expanding into the manufacturing business and is building a 35,000-sf facility here to house it. The facility, which is expected to be ready early next year, is located on a 14.5-acre in this city's industrial park.

The cost of the project hasn't been disclosed, with company officials saying only that it's a "multi-million-dollar facility." The project is getting done with some local and state help, according to plant manager Doug DiMedio, son of company owner Gene DiMedio. The City of Millville proffered a $90,000 urban enterprise zone grant to enable a rail extension. And DuBell also received a $4 million construction bond loan from the New Jersey EDA.

According to DiMedio, the company is launching an operation to make roof and floor trusses for new home construction. A wall panel production operation is also in the company's longer term plans, and the new facility will have a 14,400-sf production floor to handle two separate lines. The company expects to initially hire 25 people, according to DiMedio, who also projects that the number of employees could swell to 50 within the next two years.