A Canadian company is buying 250 acres in Wallula to build a manufacturing facility for its stone wool insulation products.

Rockwool North America announced that it’s signed a deal for land in the Wallula Gap Business Park, managed by the Port of Walla Walla. The property is east of the Tri-Cities on Highway 12.

The company is paying $8.75 million, or $35,000 an acre. The plant will employ 125 people when it’s operational, and construction will create more than 670 jobs, the company said. The project represents a $175 million investment in the region, Rockwool said.

“Rockwool has operated in North America for more than 30 years. We are excited to take this first step toward establishing ourselves in the Mid-Columbia region and growing our stone wool production capacity to better serve customers in the western United States,” said Rory Moss, president of Rockwool North America, in a statement. “We look forward to engaging with the local communities and sharing more as plans develop.”

Kip Kelly, president of the Port of Walla Walla Commission, said the manufacturing facility and Rockwool’s corporate culture “will be a welcome addition to our community.”

Port staff, including Executive Director Pat Reay and Economic Development Director Paul Gerola, were instrumental in making the project happen, Kelly said in a statement.

The announcement by Rockwool “was made possible by the vision and effort of prior port commissioners, staff members and various funding sources investing in the development of the Wallula Gap Business Park,” Kelly said in the statement.

Rockwool makes stone wool from volcanic rock. The environmentally-friendly material is used in commercial, residential and industrial settings, the company said.

“We use responsible production processes, including industry-leading melting and emissions abatement technology, and a closed-loop system to reuse and recycle water throughout the manufacturing process,” the company said in a fact sheet.

The Wallula facility will use proprietary electric melting technology, Rockwool said. It didn’t disclose a timeline for building the facility, which will be Rockwool’s fifth in North America.

The company has more than 50 manufacturing facilities around the world.

Rockwool plans open houses in April in Burbank and Walla Walla.

They are 5-8 p.m. April 17 at Walla Walla Fire District 5, 460 W. Humorist Road, Burbank; and 5-8 p.m. April 18 at the Walla Walla Regional Airport Terminal Building – Conference Room, 45 Terminal Loop, Walla Walla.