A site near Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish, LA, is being assessed for the eventual construction of a $ 110.5 million sawmill.
Owners of the Teal-Jones Group, Tom and Dick Jones, made the announcement Thursday to design a southern yellow pine lumber mill.
The new sawmill would support 125 new direct jobs, with average annual salaries of $ 47,000, plus benefits.
The production facility would generate up to 120 construction jobs at the height of construction.
The planned production facility would produce a wide variety of dimensional and specialty lumber products. Teal-Jones, which is based in British Columbia, Canada, obtained through its partners the main sawmill, planing, kiln-drying equipment and ancillary equipment required for the project, ensuring that the mill of Bossier Parish can be built on time and within the specified budget. .
The company plans to locate the entirely new facility on 235 acres at Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish, which offers easy rail access. The facility will be ideally located in the immediate vicinity of transport and rail infrastructure, as well as forests.
Teal-Jones expects to source southern yellow pine lumber from its landowning partners on this project, as well as other regional suppliers. In addition to lumber, the company plans to sell residual fiber products, including wood chips and sawdust, to local pulp and pellet mills.
“The level of support and commitment we have received from members of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, the North Louisiana Economic Partnership, the local community and government and state has been incredible,†said Tom Jones , CEO of Teal-Jones. . “At full capacity, this mill will have a production capacity of 300 million board feet, with world-class productivity and lumber recovery, and a competitive product line. This will give Teal Jones and its partners a competitive advantage in the region for years to come. “
Teal Jones is a 70 year old family business. The company is the largest private forest products company operating on the west coast of Canada. In addition to its British Columbia operations, Teal Jones operates southern yellow pine mills in Antlers, OK; Martinsville and Kinsale, Virginia; and Liberty, MS.
To secure the project in Bossier Parish, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive program that includes the services of LED FastStart – the # 1 ranked workforce development program. in the country for the past 12 years. In addition, the company should use the state’s quality employment program. The company is also pursuing a payment in lieu of tax, or PILOT, agreement with local tax entities.
