Bossier Parish to Reap the Harvest: A $100 Million Sawmill Transforms the Local Economy
Photo Credit: 318 Forum Magazine
As Featured in 318 Forum Magazine
(Full story originally reported by 318 Forum FouMagazine, the region’s go-to source for in-depth local business and community coverage.)
A new chapter is being written in the story of north Bossier Parish, and it begins with Southern yellow pine. On 235 acres near Louisiana Highway 3, just outside of Plain Dealing, a state-of-the-art sawmill is poised to become an economic powerhouse. Once fully operational, the mill is expected to produce 300 million board feet of specialized lumber annually — a staggering number that promises jobs, growth, and opportunity for generations to come.
From Vision to Reality
The journey began in April 2021, when Shreveport attorney Rich Lamb saw what others overlooked: a pressing need — and a golden opportunity.
“Lumber prices were high, but the price on the stump for timber was still very low,” Lamb recalled. “Our communities used to have a number of wood product businesses in the surrounding areas. That was really no longer the case.”
Lamb’s family has deep roots in timberland ownership. Armed with that background and a vision for revitalization, he partnered with Teal Jones, a Canadian company eager to invest in the southern U.S. market. The project quickly became the largest international investment in Bossier Parish.
“This is going to have a multi-generational effect on our communities,” Lamb said. “It’s going to employ 150 people, and that’s just the sawmill. Indirectly, people who were getting low prices for their timber are going to get higher prices. That creates severance tax revenue, logging jobs, and vendor opportunities. Economic growth will ripple far beyond the mill.”
Challenges Along the Way
Despite its promise, the path to completion wasn’t smooth. Teal Jones faced financial struggles in 2024, forcing the sale of its 57% stake. Fortunately, Sumitomo Forestry America Inc. stepped in to acquire the interest, bringing with it a strong track record as one of the nation’s largest builders of single- and multi-family homes.
“They are going to use this as one of their primary sources of lumber,” Lamb said.
Why Plain Dealing?
The decision to build in Plain Dealing was no accident. The site lies at the heart of a “wood basket” — a region rich with timber ready for harvest. Local leaders, including David “Rocky” Rockett Jr., executive director of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, worked tirelessly to make it happen.
Plain Dealing also invested in its future, contributing over $700,000 to extend water and sewer lines to the site. Mayor James Cook noted that those investments are already paying off. “They’re up and running, so we’ve got water bills coming in,” he said, hopeful that increased commerce and new residents will follow.
The Human Impact
The project’s economic benefits are clear, but its human impact is just as compelling. Rockett shared a moment during a school presentation that drove the point home.
“A little girl in the back of the class asked, ‘Are you talking about Plain Dealing, Louisiana? Is this somewhere my daddy can go to work?’ When I told her yes, three more students raised their hands. That’s when I knew this project was real — this is hope.”
Looking Ahead
Sumitomo Forestry has already expressed interest in expanding operations on adjacent land, signaling that this is just the beginning. For Lamb, the experience has been intense but rewarding.
“I need to digest this one,” he admitted. “I think I need to reflect on what I’ve learned, good and bad, before taking on something else. I also like being a lawyer.”
For now, Lamb, Rockett, and the community of Plain Dealing can take pride in knowing they’ve sparked an economic revival. The sawmill isn’t just cutting lumber — it’s building a stronger future for Bossier Parish.
Special thanks to 318 Forum Magazine for their original reporting on this transformative project.
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