Hood Container Corporation, a family-owned packaging and paper company, announced it will invest $118.9 million to modernize its legacy paper mill in West Feliciana Parish in Louisiana, allowing the company to significantly boost production capacity and quality to meet evolving market demands.
The company says that it is expecting to retain 295 current positions with an estimated salary more than 30% above the parish average. According to Louisiana Economic Development estimates, the project will result in an additional 819 indirect new jobs.
The project will take place over two phases over the next two years.
“Investments like Hood Container’s strengthen both our manufacturing base and our timber economy, positioning us to win with two industries that have deep roots in Louisiana.” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said, as quoted by Louisiana Economic Development.
“The timber industry plays a key role in growing Louisiana’s agribusiness sector, which is one of the priority areas we’ve identified for future growth in our Comprehensive Statewide Strategic Plan. Hood Container’s continuing modernization of their facility ensures the viability of the plant’s historic presence in St. Francisville, meaning good-paying jobs for area residents.”
The project will center around upgrading one paper machine, which will increase production capacity by 80,000 tons per year. With the manufacturing of more, higher-quality products, the company expects buying an additional 204,000 tons of wood chips and 22,000 tons of recycled boxes annually. The project also includes significant improvements to the plant’s recovery boiler.
The Hood Container paper mill was first opened in the late 1950s by Crown Zellerbach and later operated under Tembec. Since taking ownership in 2015, Hood Container has invested more than $160 million in the facility.
