Flooring giant Mohawk Industries will permanently close its manufacturing plant in Holden, West Virginia - laying off 111 as vinyl overtakes wood.

WASHINGTON - The Timber Innovation Act, bipartisan legislation that could advance the adoption of tall wood building construction in the U.S., is being applauded by industry leaders. “We applaud the members of Congress who co-sponsored the Timber Innovation Act bill and encourage others to sign on," said Valerie Johnson, president and CEO of D.R. Johnson Wood Innovations. D.R. Johnson is the first U.S. company to receive APA/ANSI certification to manufacture structural CLT panels. They're hoping to help grow the U.S. market. 

NELLYSFORD, Va. - For 10 years, the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) has worked to develop and administer a unified set of skill standards for the wood products industry. Established in 2007 as a non-profit charity, Tthe WCA has created skill standards for more than 240 woodworking machines and operations, issued more than 1,300 passports, and signed up more than 165 high school and postsecondary woodworking programs as EDUcation members.

Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. has introduced a mobile app available in the Apple Store and the Android Market.

SURREY, U.K. - Six criminals of an organized crime gang have been imprisoned for smuggling nearly three million illicit cigarettes into the U.K. via hollowed-out tabletops. Four of the criminals will serve a total of 10 years in prison. Officers seized more than one million Jin Ling and Blue Fest cigarettes – worth more than $254,000 in unpaid excise duty – and 81 pouches of counterfeit Golden Virginia hand-rolling tobacco.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Located on Brooklyn's East River, the developers of Empire Stores, a Brooklyn mall converted from a warehouse, are relying on a deployable flood barrier to defend against an upcoming storm.  The barrier, which is comprised of laminated marine grade plywood, stainless steel and aluminum, features hinged walls that form an L shape when erected. Twenty-nine crates of four- and seven-foot panels will be trucked to the mall site to create a 1,100-foot wall, surrounding the property.

High end furniture manufacturer Rochdale Spears has completed its manufacturing facility in Vietnam.