FLORIEN, La. —  Boise Cascade’s Mike Brown, Wood Products operations manager, today (3/9/15) announced the company will make a $43 million capital investment to upgrade and increase the capacity of its Florien plywood mill located in Sabine Parish in North Louisiana.

“Having spent the last seven years of my career working with our employees at our three Louisiana locations, I am very pleased to have Boise Cascade invest in its future here and in the future of our Louisiana employees,” Brown said. “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. This investment will enable us to continue to provide great jobs for Louisianians starting almost immediately.” 

Boise Cascade will retain 400 existing jobs at the Florien site, with the direct jobs averaging $42,500 per year, plus benefits. The Florien mill is one of three major manufacturing sites Boise Cascade operates in Louisiana. Other locations include a plywood mill in Oakdale and an engineered wood products mill in Alexandria. With the expansion beginning in the summer of 2015, Boise Cascade estimates the project will generate 103 construction jobs at peak building activity.

“Louisiana’s outstanding workforce, technology and experience in the forestry and wood products sector continue to pay big dividends for our state. We’re proud that industry leaders like Boise Cascade recognize the leadership, talent and resources Louisiana provides to their businesses. This reinvestment in a major facility in Northwest Louisiana demonstrates a huge vote of confidence by Boise Cascade in its Louisiana workforce. More people than ever before have a job in our state today. Major capital expansions like this one in Florien also confirm that we are on the right path in providing a best-in-the-nation business climate that will benefit Louisiana families for generations to come,” said Gov. Jindal.

In Florien, Boise Cascade will replace two dryers and substantially increase its capacity for manufacturing veneer products, with the company also adding log yard storage space and new press equipment that will boost capacity. The Florien mill supplies veneer for Boise Cascade’s Alexandria engineered wood products mill, where the company produces such items as I-joists and laminated veneer lumber. The company also produces veneer for plywood manufactured in Florien and Oakdale and used for concrete forms, sheathing and subfloors.

“Boise is vital to the economic development of the Village of Florien and Sabine Parish as a whole,” Florien Mayor Eddie Jones Jr. said. “Not only does Boise provide direct jobs at the mill itself, but many indirect jobs in the timber industry that are vital to the western part of the state. In addition to the economic impact, Boise also invests in the community through collaborative efforts with the Village of Florien to improve the community as a whole, including police protection, community beautification, and sponsorship of the Sabine Free State Festival. We’re excited about the Boise expansion project and look forward to a close relationship with Boise for years to come.”

The company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption incentive. After beginning the expansion this summer, Boise Cascade anticipates completion of the dryer installations by the end of 2016 and completion of the additional upgrades in 2017.

“Boise Cascade’s $43 million investment reaffirms its commitment to Sabine Parish and to the Village of Florien,” said President Scott Martinez of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “It is a testament to the great business climate and work ethic found in North Louisiana. Their 400 existing jobs continue to have a tremendous economic impact for this rural community.”

About Boise Cascade

Boise Cascade Company is one of the largest producers of plywood and engineered wood products in North America and a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products. For more information, visit BC.com.