ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. – Howell Foundry, an industrial metal casting company, announced it is investing $7.4 million to upgrade its processing facility in West Feliciana Parish.
The investment will allow the company to expand its utilization of state-of-the-art 3D technology and meet increasing demand from customers in the paper, energy, mining and petrochemical industries.
The company expects to create 26 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of more than $59,000, while retaining 22 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 27 indirect new jobs, for a total of 53 new jobs in the Capital Region.
As one of the few small U.S. foundries that utilizes 3D technologies, Howell Foundry is able to rapidly produce metal casting replicas of critical components for the operation of industrial plants. Emergency recovery options at other facilities can take months to complete and might not construct the same quality of products. Howell Foundry’s process uses metallurgical and technological advancements to deliver high-quality castings in a fraction of the time.
“Howell Foundry combines modern day 3D innovations with proven craftsmanship in one of the oldest known trades to produce rapid and reliable solutions to its valued customers who are primarily located on the Gulf Coast,” Howell Foundry President JB Shoaf said. “We take great pride in being a local business that serves local businesses.”
The company expects to start the three-phase expansion project this month and anticipates it will be complete by the end of 2027.
To secure the project in St. Francisville, the state of Louisiana offered Howell Foundry a competitive incentives package that includes a $400,000 performance-based forgivable loan from the Economic Development Award Program for infrastructure repairs contingent upon meeting investment and payroll targets. The company is also expected to participate in the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
