Logo courtesy of Hood Container Corp.
Hood Container Corp. has announced a $118.9 million investment to modernize its legacy paper mill in St. Francisville, Louisiana—a project the Atlanta-based company says will boost production capacity and quality to meet “evolving market demands.”
The project will center around upgrading Hood’s primary paper machine, which the company says will increase its production capacity by about 80,000 tons per year, and with the manufacturing of “more, higher-quality products,” Hood anticipates buying an additional 204,000 tons of wood chips and 22,000 tons of recovered paper annually.
According to Hood, the project will take place over two phases over the next two years. The first phase will take place during the third quarter of 2026 and the remaining equipment and additions are expected to be fully installed during the May 2027 annual mill outage.
“Hood Container is proud to continue growing our containerboard business with a new investment to our St. Francisville mill,” Hood Container Senior Vice President Wayne Morgan says. “The state of Louisiana has been a valued partner since we acquired the facility in 2015, and we look forward to building on that strong relationship in the years ahead.”
The company is expected to retain 295 current positions, and the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) estimates the project will result in an additional 819 indirect new jobs.
“Investments like Hood Container’s strengthen both our manufacturing base and our timber economy, positioning us to win with two industries that have deep roots in Louisiana.” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois says.
“Hood Container’s continuing modernization of their facility ensures the viability of the plant’s historic presence in St. Francisville, meaning good-paying jobs for area residents.”
The Hood Container facility first opened in the late 1950s by Crown Zellerbach and later operated under Tembec. Since taking ownership in 2015, Hood Container has invested more than $160 million in the facility.
To secure the project, LED says the state of Louisiana offered Hood a competitive incentive package, including an $800,000 Modernization Tax Credit to be paid out over a five-year period. Hood Container also is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program.
The company also operates a paper mill in Waverly, Tennessee.