Integrated forest products company Canfor Corporation is moving forward with final engineering and feasibility for a $160 million state-of-the-art lumber mill in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The project is expected to create 130 jobs.

The company would locate the facility on an LED Certified Site at the Beauregard Regional Airport, near DeRidder. The sawmill would process yellow pine from Louisiana forests, with the manufacturing capacity and flexibility to produce a wide variety of high quality wood products for Canfor’s customers. Start-up is expected to begin late in the third quarter of 2022.

“Canfor is excited to be investing in a new world-class sawmill in Louisiana that will support our growth and diversification in the U.S. South and ensure we continue to deliver high value products to our global customers,” Canfor Corp. President and CEO Don Kayne said.

To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart, the state workforce development program. The package also includes a performance-based grant of $1.5 million, subject to the company reaching specified investment and payroll benchmarks. Should the project move forward, the company also is expected to recognize significant value from the use of Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“Agribusiness remains one of our key industries for growing Louisiana’s economy, and our state offers unique advantages that attracted Canfor here,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “This major new manufacturing project can resonate across the region’s economy in a variety of ways. We welcome plans for this foreign direct investment in Louisiana by this industry leader, and we look forward to the good jobs this project is expected to create in Beauregard Parish for the region’s skilled workforce.”

Based in British Columbia, Canada, Canfor is one of the world’s largest producers of sustainable lumber, pulp and paper.

“This significant project would bring jobs to Beauregard Parish,” said President and CEO George Swift of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Importantly, this would be the first industrial project at the Beauregard Regional Airport Certified Site. The future is strong for this property. Also, I want to thank R.B. Smith, vice president of workforce and business development for the SWLA Alliance, who has worked tirelessly with Beauregard officials and the company to make this project happen.”