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Centric Pipe Plans $32.5 Million Expansion At Bossier City, Louisiana, Pipe Manufacturing Facility

06/18/2014
Centric Pipe, an SB International affiliate, will make a $32.5 million capital investment to renovate and expand the former Northwest Pipe facility in Bossier City, Louisiana. The project is expected to create 82 direct jobs.

The company will manufacture and supply welded-steel pipe and tubular products for domestic clients in the oil and gas industry. Centric’s investment will add new equipment and a rail spur to the facility. The company has begun hiring at the Bossier City facility and expects to start facility upgrades and construction of the railroad spur by the first quarter of 2015, with completion of all improvements expected by the end of 2017.

“We are very bullish on the energy sector in the U.S. and Canada, and we believe that the demand for oil and gas drilling will continue to grow,” SB International Inc. President/CEO Satish Gupta. “Providing American-made products to our customers is paramount, and growth like ours furthers the United States’ global position and independence within the energy sector. Further, Louisiana is a great advocate and true partner for business expansion and new operations. Various state and local programs and the low-tax environment make it very welcoming to grow here, and the state has an impressive transportation infrastructure that supports American manufacturing. SB International is especially excited about Louisiana’s regional and economic significance within the energy sector.”

Based in Dallas, SB International formed Centric Pipe, which purchased the Bossier City facility in March 2014 and acquired the assets of Northwest Pipe’s oil country tubular goods business. Centric Pipe will retain 52 existing employees at the Bossier City site.

Governor Bobby Jindal said, “SB International chose Louisiana because of the Bossier City area’s highly educated workforce, the strong work ethic of our people, and Louisiana’s improved business climate. SB International is among a growing list of companies that are investing in Louisiana because we have implemented policies that are strengthening our economy and business climate. Louisiana now has more people working than ever before and today’s announcement is great news for Northwest Louisiana, but our work does not stop here. We will continue to build a better business climate and attract companies that want to invest and expand, so that we can create even more jobs and a greater quality of life for Louisiana families.”

Louisiana Economic Development began working with SB International on the project in January 2014. To secure the project, Louisiana offered SB International a $2 million performance-based grant for infrastructure improvements at the site. Centric Pipe will receive the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart, the nation’s No. 1-ranked state workforce development program – at no cost, and the company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“The North Louisiana Economic Partnership worked diligently with its state and local partners to facilitate this acquisition, which ensures the growth and survival of this longtime Bossier City company,” NLEP President Scott Martinez said. “Northwest Pipe Company has had a presence in the local oil and gas industry since the 1960s. We applaud SB International and Centric Pipe LLC for investing in North Louisiana and for retaining the 52 existing jobs and adding new jobs in our community.”

“Bossier is proud to welcome SB International and Centric Pipe to our community, joining us in this growing industrial endeavor to meet the energy infrastructure needs of our state and region, as we better position our community in the ever-growing international field of energy production,” said President David “Rocky” Rockett Jr. of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. “The Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation also wants to thank Governor Jindal and his fine staff at LED. They, along with our regional partners at NLEP, worked with us to ensure the longevity of this facility and the tenure of its employees in Bossier.”

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