Boise Cascade, one of the largest producers of plywood and engineered wood products in North America, announced today it plans to spend $43 million to upgrade and expand its plywood mill in Florien, a community of about 700 people in Sabine Parish.
The upgrades and expansion will substantially increase Boise Cascade’s capacity for manufacturing veneer products at the mill, and it will also add log storage space and new press equipment. The Florien mill supplies veneer for the company’s engineered wood products mill in nearby Alexandria, where the company makes products such as I-joists and laminated veneer lumber. The company also has a plywood mill in Oakdale, Louisiana.
Louisiana Economic Development says the $43 million investment will retain about 400 existing jobs at the Florien mill. With the expansion slated to begin this summer, Boise Cascade estimates the project will generate 103 construction jobs at peak building activity.
“With over 1,150 Louisiana employees and a Louisiana payroll of over $3.8 million per month, Boise Cascade sees Louisiana as an integral part of the company’s future,” says Boise Cascade Wood Products Operations Manager Mike Brown in a prepared statement. “This investment will enable us to continue to provide great jobs for Louisianians starting almost immediately.”
LED says the company is expected to benefit from the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption incentive program, which provides a full abatement of local property taxes on new capital investments for up to 10 years.
LED has more details on today’s announcement.
—Steve Sanoski
