COUSHATTA, La. — C&C Forest Products plans to invest more than $21 million to rebuild and modernize its sawmill in Coushatta following a fire that damaged the facility in 2025, a project expected to create 333 jobs across Northwest Louisiana.
The investment will reposition the Red River Parish facility as a specialty lumber and timber operation with upgraded equipment and a redesigned site layout intended to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
The company expects to create 77 direct jobs while retaining 27 existing positions. The new jobs will carry an average annual salary of $65,260, according to Louisiana Economic Development. The state agency estimates the project will generate an additional 256 indirect jobs, bringing the total potential employment impact to 333 positions.
The rebuilt sawmill at 306 Wilkinson St. will focus on specialty lumber and timbers and is expected to produce up to 90 million board feet annually once fully operational. The expansion is designed to strengthen the company’s ability to serve regional and national markets.
“C&C Forest Products’ investment in Coushatta reflects the continued growth of Louisiana’s agribusiness industry, with companies modernizing operations and expanding into specialty production,” Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “By rebuilding this facility, the company is creating high-quality jobs while adding new capacity that strengthens Louisiana’s position in the timber industry.”
C&C Forest Products CEO Jim Langdale said the project reflects the company’s commitment to the region’s timber sector and workforce.
“C&C Forest Products is pleased to partner with Louisiana Economic Development and the Coushatta community in rebuilding and modernizing our sawmill,” Langdale said. “This investment reflects our commitment to the region’s timber industry and the skilled workforce that make operations like this possible.”
The company operates sawmills in Louisiana and Arkansas and has continued investing in its manufacturing network to expand production capacity and support specialty wood products.
Construction is expected to begin during the first half of 2026, with completion anticipated by the end of the year. The facility is expected to begin commercial sales in the first quarter of 2027.
To support the project, Louisiana offered C&C FP Holdings LLC an incentives package that includes workforce development assistance through LED FastStart and a $1 million performance-based grant for utility and infrastructure improvements. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
According to the company, the Coushatta facility was acquired in 2022 by Blue Wolf Capital as part of its purchase of two sawmills from Idaho Timber. Following the February 2025 fire, the company elected to rebuild the site with a focus on specialty lumber and timber production.
Economic development officials said the project represents a significant investment in Red River Parish and reinforces Northwest Louisiana’s role in the forest products industry.