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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Canada-Based E.I. Williams Industries Eyes U.S. Manufacturing Plant in Webster Parish, Louisiana

02/14/2020
Canada-based E.I. Williams Industries will establish a Louisiana facility to manufacture industrial sound-control equipment in Webster Parish, Louisiana.

Headquartered in Ajax near Toronto, E.I. Williams is renowned for designing and manufacturing vent silencers, fan silencers, industrial silencers and noise enclosures. The Webster Parish facility will be the company’s first manufacturing site in the U.S.

The company will lease a 50,000-square-foot building at the North Webster Parish Industrial Park, with manufacturing equipment to be installed in the first quarter of 2020. E.I. Williams is expected to hire 100 associates over the next five years, where the company will make a $700,000 capital investment, according to Louisiana Economic Development.

“We were approached to consider Louisiana at a conference meeting in Calgary, Alberta with representatives of the state, who then made all the arrangements for us to visit potential sites,” company President Jim Williams said. “We selected the Northwest Louisiana site due to its proximity to some of our largest customers, our ability to expand business into Central and South America, and most importantly the training opportunities that are available to our potential workforce. The teams at LED and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership made us feel incredibly welcome and were instrumental in making this project a reality. Louisiana’s hospitality, and the skilled and loyal workforce, convinced us to establish this new facility in Sarepta.”

LED began discussions with E.I. Williams about a potential manufacturing facility in June 2019. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart® – the nation’s No. 1 state workforce development program for the past 10 years. The package also includes a $250,000 incentive from the state’s Economic Development Award Program, which will be used for infrastructure upgrades on-site. The company also is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“With a welcoming business climate, talented workforce and strong infrastructure, Louisiana remains an ideal destination for international business investments,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “On behalf of the State of Louisiana, I am proud to welcome E.I. Williams, and I am confident they will find success in Webster Parish. The company’s investment will create new economic opportunities for our people, and generate economic momentum for the region.”

“This project will provide a much-needed economic boost for Webster Parish,” said Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall. “I want to thank the North Webster Parish Industrial District, North Louisiana Economic Partnership and Louisiana Economic Development for working tirelessly behind the scenes to put this deal together. E.I. Williams will find a good home in Webster Parish.”

“E.I. Williams’ new 100-job manufacturing project in North Webster Parish is a game-changer for this rural community,” said President Scott Martinez of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “NLEP worked with the company on identifying a building in our region and provided strategic support on site visits, workforce training and the lease agreement.”

“North Webster Parish Industrial District is very excited to welcome E.I. Williams Industries to our community,” said Jeff Harper, vice chairman of the district’s board. “The project will have a huge economic impact for North Webster Parish and proves that rural communities can compete and be attractive business locations.”

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