ST. HELENA, La. – Florida Parishes Forest Products LLC is looking to construct a sawmill that could employ 95 people by 2022. According to the Advocate, the company is seeking an economic incentive agreement with the state that would include exempting the mill from property taxes for up to its first 10 years. The exemption is reportedly contingent on approval of the local school board, sheriff's office and police jury. The sawmill would source logs from the more than 200,000 acres of forest located in the parish.

Q. I read in Woodworking Network about sawmills closing in the western U.S. and western Canada, but more opening and expanding in the southern U.S. What is happening?

Price drops are likely to make a significant number of sawmills become non-profit operations as profit margins for hardwood sawmills are very small right now.

URANIA, La. -- LaSalle Lumber Co. has dedicated its new $115 million sawmill in central Louisiana. Earlier, LaSalle shipped the first truckload of lumber from its new sawmill in Urania. The mill began start-up operations in December and made it first shipment in March. “We’re very happy with how the start-up process has gone to date,” LaSalle Lumber plant manager Nick Landi said earlier when the first shipment was made.

Sawmill operator has added cabinet shop, signmaking and retail operation to its core business to find the right combination for success.

Canadian lumber firm Interfor will acquire four sawmills from Simpson Lumber for $94.7 million. The move increases Interfor's total capacity by 30% and pushes its U.S. business from 57% to 67% of Interfor's total capacity.

Interfor to Acquire Four Sawmills From Simpson Lumber in US Southeast and Pacific Northwest- Consideration of US$94.7 million, plus working capital and contingent future payments- Increases Interfor's total capacity by 30% - Increases the US proportion of Interfor's capacity from 57% to 67%

Despite a 3 percent drop in lumber production, Interfor Corporation earned $11 million in the third quarter on sales revenue of $373 million, a $100 million gain over the $273 million in the third quarter last year.