WestRock has begun a $97 m project to expand and modernize its paper mill in Hodge, Louisiana.
The investment in construction of a new woodyard and new equipment will increase capacity and efficiencies and reduce operating costs at the facility, the company said. It comes quickly after the recently completed five-year modernization plan that the company announced in 2017.
“WestRock’s latest investment in this facility is an investment in the workers of north Louisiana and the rural revitalization of our state,” Gov. Edwards said at a groundbreaking ceremony on August 31, attended by company executives and state, regional and local government in Hodge. “These critical upgrades ensure the long-term viability of a facility responsible for more than 450 direct jobs and hundreds more indirect jobs in Jackson Parish. We’re grateful for the company’s continuing commitment to Louisiana’s workers, to our rural communities, and to the growth and diversification of our timber industry.”
The Hodge mill, situated on a 1,700-acre site, produces high-quality containerboard.
