HAUGHTON, La.  ̶  Duckwater Services, based in El Dorado, Arkansas announced today it will build a $4 million, state-of-the-art transportation services center in the Bossier Parish Town of Haughton, Louisiana, right off Interstate 20 and Exit 33 on LA Highway 3227.  Duckwater Services along with its tenants, Miller Maintenance Services and Frac-N-Vac Tanks, combined will create 28 new direct jobs with an average wage of $15 - $25 per hour and an annual salary of $50,000 - $70,000 for management positions. Duckwater CEO and Partner Clark Burton; NLEP President Scott Martinez; Bossier Parish Police Jury President Glenn Benton and Haughton Mayor Jack Hicks spoke at the announcement on Thursday, April 19^th at Haughton Town Hall.  

“We are very excited to develop a modern transportation center in North Louisiana that serves our growing customer base while creating good-paying jobs, new tax revenue and economic development for the Town of Haughton and Bossier Parish,” said Clark Burton, Duckwater CEO/Partner. “Duckwater Services is committed to setting the highest standard of quality tank washing and customer service in the industry. We look forward to becoming a good community partner with the Town of Haughton and other businesses.”

“I would like to thank the leadership of the Town of Haughton and the Bossier Parish Police Jury, our economic development partners, North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) and the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, our real estate broker, Stan Cole, with Century 21 United and our consultant, Patrick Frano, with Blue Sphere Water Technology for all their assistance in helping this project become a reality,” said Burton.

Duckwater will construct two buildings on 10 acres in the city limits of Haughton: a 15,225 square-foot facility that will house Duckwater’s commercial tank cleaning services and a commercial waste water treatment operation. Duckwater’s state-of-the-art, onsite treatment plant can treat waste streams from other companies as well as the discharge from its tank cleaning operation.  A second 7,150 square-foot building will be built for Miller Maintenance’s operations. Frac-N-Vac will also lease space at Duckwater’s equipment yard for its frac tanks, vacuum boxes, de-watering boxes, poly tanks, and other transportation containers available for rent. Additionally, a tank farm will be available on site.

“Frac-N-Vac is excited to expand to Haughton and looks forward to opening a satellite office at this new state-of-the-art facility,” said Kelly Wood, Frac-N-Vac CEO. “Our partnership with Duckwater Services will enhance our customer service, because the two sister companies offer complementary services.”  
 

To accommodate this new economic development project, the Town of Haughton will upgrade its waste water infrastructure to treat Duckwater’s discharge from its tank cleaning operation. The town also developed an industrial waste water fee schedule and will enjoy additional revenue for waste water treatment and discharge fees.

“The Town of Haughton is very excited to welcome Duckwater Services along with two other businesses that will be located at their facility, Miller Maintenance and Frac-N-Vac,” said Mayor Jack Hicks, Town of Haughton. “I feel like this location will bring much needed jobs to the town and will be very beneficial to our local economy. We look forward to watching them grow and wish them much success.”

Duckwater’s expansion into North Louisiana represents a significant step in the company’s business growth and was prompted by client demand for their services throughout South Arkansas and North Louisiana. The company evaluated numerous sites and communities in North Louisiana, looking for a strategic location off Interstate 20 and a great business climate. The company broke ground on its Haughton site on April 1, 2018 and anticipates completing construction in the fourth quarter of this year.

“The expansion of three companies to Bossier Parish is a testament to the ease of doing business in our area, great workforce and transportation infrastructure,” said Jury President Glenn Benton, Bossier Parish Police Jury. “We are very pleased to welcome these high-quality employers to Bossier Parish.”

NLEP worked with Duckwater for nearly nine months to identify and explore numerous sites in several parishes and facilitated meetings with local economic development partners, regulatory agencies, and political leadership. The economic development project included significant milestones, such as the construction of an access road for 18-wheelers off LA Highway 3227 and a zoning change for the site from commercial to industrial.

“NLEP worked alongside Duckwater each step of the way, helping to build a team to support the company’s expansion plan,” said NLEP President Scott Martinez, CEcD. “The economic impact of Duckwater’s development is huge for Haughton.”

 

Duckwater’s leadership team includes Clark Burton, CEO/Partner; Sandy Smith, CFO/Partner; Joe Bradley, Principal Owner; Jennifer Vestal, Controller; and Tad Dugal, Operations Supervisor. The North Louisiana expansion will double Duckwater’s current workforce and capacity.
  

About Duckwater services, LLC

Established in 2015, Duckwater Services, LLC, based in El Dorado, Arkansas, operates commercial tank washing facilities in South Arkansas and North Louisiana. Duckwater Services is committed to providing the highest standard of customer service, high-quality tank cleaning, and commercial waste water treatment services in a clean and safe work environment for the tank transporting industry. Duckwater is capable of cleaning a variety of chemicals, oils, and other non-hazardous substances. We also offer a wide variety of environmental supplies, spill kits, gaskets and safety supplies. Permitted and licensed in Arkansas and Louisiana, Duckwater strictly follows all state and federal environmental and safety guidelines concerning waste water disposal and oil separation.

About North Louisiana Economic Partnership

North Louisiana Economic Partnership, an Accredited Economic Development Organization, provides professional economic development services to the 14 parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation and prospect management. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized. Its vision is for North Louisiana to be a thriving region-a destination for high quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.