Teal Jones Group starts construction on a $110 million lumber production facility that will support the creation of nearly 500 new jobs in Northwest Louisiana.
Teal Jones Group, an international forestry products company based in Canada, disclosed in December that it was considering Northwest Louisiana as the site of a new southern yellow pine lumber plant. The company made its final investment decision official at a groundbreaking ceremony that was also attended by LED Secretary Don Pierson, Teal Jones CEO Tom Jones, company President Dick Jones and other regional and local officials.
Site preparation of the 235-acre greenfield facility in Plain Dealing is underway and expected to be complete by 3Q 2023. Site work includes creating access to nearby railway infrastructure and timberlands, which the company cited as key factors in its decision to build its first plant in Louisiana. The company, which is headquartered in British Columbia, also has U.S. operations in Virginia and Mississippi.
The project is expected to create 125 new direct jobs, with average annual salaries of $47,000 plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will also support at least 369 indirect jobs, for a total of 494 prospective new jobs in Louisiana’s Northwest Region. The company estimates up to 120 construction jobs at peak construction.
When complete, the facility will produce a wide range of dimensional and specialty lumber products with a production capacity of 300 million board feet per year.
In addition to lumber, the company plans to sell residual fiber products, including chips and sawdust, to local pulp and pellet plants.
Teal Jones is a family-owned company based in British Columbia, Canada. The company is the largest privately held forest products company operating on the western coast of Canada. Along with its B.C. operations, Teal Jones operates southern yellow pine mills in Antlers, Okla.; Martinsville and Kinsale, Va.; and Liberty, Miss.
