C&C Forest Products will invest over $21 million to rebuild its Coushatta sawmill following a 2025 fire, the company said Thursday in a news release. The company is expected to create 77 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $65,260, which is 34% above the average Red River Parish wage, while retaining 27 current positions.

Investment and Job Creation

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 256 indirect new jobs, for a total of 333 potential new job opportunities in the Northwest Region. The project will reconfigure the existing facility at 306 Wilkinson St. with updated equipment and improved site layout to support more efficient production.

Once complete, the rebuilt sawmill will focus on specialty lumber and timbers and will be capable of producing up to 90 million board feet annually, enhancing the company’s ability to serve regional and national markets. C&C Forest Products operates sawmills in Louisiana and Arkansas, with Coushatta serving as a key location in the company’s manufacturing network.

C&C Forest Products CEO Jim Langdale said, “This investment reflects our commitment to the region’s timber industry and the skilled workforce that make operations like this possible. We appreciate the state’s support and look forward to creating new opportunities for growth and jobs in Red River Parish.”

State Support and Incentives

To secure the project in Coushatta, the state of Louisiana offered C&C FP Holdings, LLC a competitive incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce development solutions of LED FastStart and a $1 million performance-based grant for utility and infrastructure improvements.

The company is also expected to participate in Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs. The facility should begin sales in the first quarter of 2027.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.