The mill was originally built by Georgia Pacific in the early-1970s and it was significantly upgraded to become one of the most technologically advanced mills in North America. At its peak, it employed approximately 200 workers, making it one of the largest independent southern pine manufacturers in the U.S.
Caddo River Forest Products to reopen the Glenwood, Arkansas sawmill, investing $50 million
Caddo River Forest Products announced its plan to reopen the Glenwood,
Arkansas sawmill, said Arkansas Economic Development Commission in a
statement. The company will invest up to $50 million in the facility,
creating 136 new jobs with 200 to 300 new indirect jobs also expected in
the area as a result of this project. “Caddo River Forest
Products is thankful for all of the support received from CAT Financial,
the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Glenwood,
Pike County, the State of Arkansas and the U.S. Economic Development
Administration program,” said David Henderson, a member of the Caddo
River partnership. “We are pleased to bring back important jobs to the
area.”Caddo River Forest Products plans on manufacturing
dimensional and specialty lumber. The re-start of the mill will also
provide indirect employment opportunities for loggers, landowners and
transportation specialists.The U.S. Economic Development
Administration (EDA) will provide a grant of $817,726 to the city of
Glenwood to make water and roadway infrastructure improvements needed to
serve the Caddo River Forest Products facility.“EDA is pleased
to partner with Glenwood in providing much needed infrastructure
improvements to bring this sawmill facility back online,” said Jorge D.
Ayala, EDA’s regional director. “This investment will drastically
improve and expand the economic opportunity of Glenwood and will
strengthen a community that has suffered disproportionate economic
distress and job losses.”The mill was originally built by
Georgia Pacific in the early-1970s and it was significantly upgraded to
become one of the most technologically advanced mills in North America.
At its peak, it employed approximately 200 workers, making it one of the
largest independent southern pine manufacturers in the United States.“The
timber industry is vital to Arkansas’ economic well-being,” said Mike
Preston, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development
Commission. “The jobs created by Caddo River Forest Products will have a
lasting impact on many families in Glenwood and the surrounding area.”“This
Federal and State Assistance will bring at least 136 new jobs to the
City of Glenwood and likely spur more activity in the surrounding
areas,” said Glenwood Mayor Ron Martin. “This will bring more money to
the city, county, and state. The best thing for the citizens of Glenwood
and surrounding area is the opportunities for jobs, the dignity and joy
of working to support their families.”