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Morehouse Parish has several assets that could make it attractive to the biofuel industry in the wake of the closure of International Paper’s Louisiana Mill.
Several of these assets will be examined in next month’s issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine, a monthly publication giving information to ethanol professionals across the globe.
Morehouse Economic Development Corp. CEO Kay King said the magazine article about Bastrop came as the result of Taimerica Management Co.’s email campaign to market Morehouse Parish.
In its state-funded Recovery Plan for Bastrop and Morehouse Parish, Taimerica identified the biofuel industry as a good match for location here.
The magazine conducted interviews in November with King, Bastrop Mayor Betty Alford-Olive and Kelsey Short, Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Processing for Louisiana Economic Development.
In addition to the article, the magazine will publish an aerial photo of downtown Bastrop from the MEDC files.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to get some exposure at the international level,” said King.
Workforce adaptability is a key reason for the smooth transition from the paper industry to biofuel industry in other communities.
The article highlights Taimerica’s report that Bastrop has an unusually large concentration of workers with skills fitting chemical processing industries such as ethanol and biodiesel production.
“There’s a broad and deep workforce of individuals with industrial experience,” said Short.
The article also notes Taimerica’s finding that the Morehouse Parish workforce is “sticky,” that is, unwilling to relocate and willing to commute to lower-paying jobs in order to remain here. Worker loyalty to the community is attractive for new businesses.
Another asset for the biofuel industry is that the area surrounding Bastrop can provide corn and woody biomass. Known as “wood basket,” the cellulosic feedstock around Bastrop was utilized by IP and could also make this an ideal location for cellulosic ethanol production.
Short said along with workforce and multiple feedstock options, a third component is logistics: Access to two rail lines and to Interstate 20.
The Louisiana Mill property, although still owned by IP and not yet on the market, offers direct access to major rail lines and two on-site power turbines. Bastrop’s sewer capacity of 1 million gallons per day is another plus.
“We recognize there could be some potential uses of the IP site, and we want to make sure people know those assets are out there,” said King.
Morehouse Parish has several assets that could make it attractive to the biofuel industry in the wake of the closure of International Paper’s Louisiana Mill.
Several of these assets will be examined in next month’s issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine, a monthly publication giving information to ethanol professionals across the globe.
Morehouse Economic Development Corp. CEO Kay King said the magazine article about Bastrop came as the result of Taimerica Management Co.’s email campaign to market Morehouse Parish.
In its state-funded Recovery Plan for Bastrop and Morehouse Parish, Taimerica identified the biofuel industry as a good match for location here.
The magazine conducted interviews in November with King, Bastrop Mayor Betty Alford-Olive and Kelsey Short, Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Processing for Louisiana Economic Development.
In addition to the article, the magazine will publish an aerial photo of downtown Bastrop from the MEDC files.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to get some exposure at the international level,” said King.
Workforce adaptability is a key reason for the smooth transition from the paper industry to biofuel industry in other communities.
The article highlights Taimerica’s report that Bastrop has an unusually large concentration of workers with skills fitting chemical processing industries such as ethanol and biodiesel production.
“There’s a broad and deep workforce of individuals with industrial experience,” said Short.
The article also notes Taimerica’s finding that the Morehouse Parish workforce is “sticky,” that is, unwilling to relocate and willing to commute to lower-paying jobs in order to remain here. Worker loyalty to the community is attractive for new businesses.
Another asset for the biofuel industry is that the area surrounding Bastrop can provide corn and woody biomass. Known as “wood basket,” the cellulosic feedstock around Bastrop was utilized by IP and could also make this an ideal location for cellulosic ethanol production.
Short said along with workforce and multiple feedstock options, a third component is logistics: Access to two rail lines and to Interstate 20.
The Louisiana Mill property, although still owned by IP and not yet on the market, offers direct access to major rail lines and two on-site power turbines. Bastrop’s sewer capacity of 1 million gallons per day is another plus.
“We recognize there could be some potential uses of the IP site, and we want to make sure people know those assets are out there,” said King.
Other possible matches for Bastrop include the specialty pet food industry -- which King said has long been identified as a target industry in Louisiana -- and industries related to the new V-Vehicle Car Co. assembly plant to be located in Monroe.
King said Taimerica and MEDC plans to mail out flyers to approximately 90 pet food companies and approximately 500 car parts companies in coming months.
“The trend is that people are looking for existing buildings,” said King. “If the economy was not going through a depression right now, I think we would see more activity around the IP mill property.”
King said IP’s liquid packaging plant was placed on the market soon after the mill closed, and could be a good location for one of these targeted industries.
“IP was quick to get it on the market, and we were very appreciative for that,” said King. “It’s a very nice building and it shows well.”
The article about Bastrop, “Workers Available, Ethanol Producers Wanted” by Kris Bevill, will be published in the Jan. 2010 edition of Ethanol Producers Magazine. It has already been posted on-line and can be found at www.ethanolproducer.com.
