Rotarians of Winnfield learned about the Winn Parish Industrial Board at their meeting on September 4 from Board member Larry Bates and Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils. 

Nevils explained that the Board was formed out of the agreement between the Police Jury and Jeld-Wen when Jeld-Wen located its plant in the parish. The Industrial Board acquired the property on which the plant is located, and Jeld-Wen leases the property from the board, paying annual rent of $50,000 to the board. 

The Industrial Board uses the funds to investigate industrial development opportunities for the area to attract businesses which will provide jobs for Winn Parish. Bates reported the Board has sought out manufacturing companies which might make their products locally, although none of those discussions has resulted in success.

The board also retained an economic development consulting firm, Retail Strategies, to perform a study of traffic going through the town and of the types of businesses that might be interested in the local resources. This was a one-year contract, which resulted in a report primarily recommending the board seek out fast food businesses to locate on Highway 167. The board felt this type of business would only attract absentee franchise owners and only offer low-paying jobs. It chose not to renew Retail Strategies’ contract.

The board is currently considering creating an industrial complex of about 60 acres or so, to first attract retail businesses and then manufacturing companies to increase available jobs and traffic in the area along the Highway 167 corridor. The board focuses its efforts on businesses which sell and manufacture products from wood, as that is a primary resource of the parish.

After Mr. Bates and Mr. Nevils answered questions from the audience, the meeting was adjourned with the Rotary motto, Service Above Self!