USG’s Canadian division CGC has celebrated the commencement of construction of its new domestic manufacturing plant in Wheatland County, Alberta. 

The 220,000ft² plant represents a C$210m ($153.13m) investment. It will occupy 214 acres of land north-west of Carseland in the province. 

The decision to build the plant was first announced in July 2022, with CGC collaborating with local partners such as Wheatland County, Alberta Government, Siksika Nation, and Invest Alberta. 

Alberta's Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones said: “CGC Inc's investment in Wheatland County is helping to diversify rural Alberta and create good jobs for hardworking Albertans. 

“This state-of-the-art wallboard manufacturing facility has helped to expand the manufacturing sector in our province and will ensure residential, commercial, industrial and institutional sectors can get the wall products they need to get their projects built in Alberta and across the country.” 

The plant is set to become CGC's most environmentally friendly facility. 

It will incorporate technologies to optimise wallboard production while reducing water usage, energy consumption, and waste. 

CGC is also constructing a solar field on the site to generate renewable energy for its operations.  

The factory is intended to streamline the company’s supply chain, improving reliability, accessibility, and sustainability. 

Specifically, the Wheatland County plant is expected to enhance the delivery of CGC’s Sheetrock wallboard to the region’s residential and commercial customers. 

USG CEO Chris Griffin said: “Today's ground-breaking marks a significant win for CGC operations in Western Canada and for our ambitious growth plans in Canada more broadly. 

“This project underscores our commitment to being the best wallboard manufacturer to do business with, particularly as builders, governments and communities across Alberta and the West work to expand housing starts, accessibility and affordability.” 

The site's construction phase is expected to be completed in 2026, with recruitment and hiring for the plant beginning in mid-2025. 

The project is anticipated to generate more than 200 jobs during its construction phase and create over 100 permanent, full-time manufacturing positions once completed.