| In the DeSoto
Parish area, construction, employment, and sales are at their
highest level in years. The Louisiana Department of Labor
reports an unemployment drop of nearly two percent over the past
four years.
DeSoto Parish has a
thriving timber business driven by several major employers that
include International Paper Company, a one-half billion dollar
paper mill which employs over 420 people; Louisiana Pacific
Corporation, which manufactures plywood; Mims Lumber; and B.R.
Bedsole Timber Corporation.
Other major employers in
the area include Hendrix Manufacturing Co.; Acme Tube Inc. of
Louisiana; DeSoto Regional Health System; DeSoto Parish School
Board, which boasts 650 employees. Plus lignite mining by the
Dolet Hills Mining Venture contributes heavily to the economy
along with the CLECO-SWEPCO Power Plant. Financial resources are
available with community banks, regional banks and credit unions
doing business in the parish. There are 12 full service offices
representing 6 institutions.
Industrial development is
proceeding at a very fast pace. Hundreds of acres are available
for industry in the DeSoto Parish Air Industrial Park near
Mansfield, the Logansport Industrial Park and the I-49 Business
Park located at the intersection of Highway 175 and I-49. These
locations are outstanding sites for prospective businesses and
with I-49 and six other major highways criss-crossing the
parish, distribution would not be a problem. |
