Gov. Edwards, E.I. Williams Industries Announce 100-Job Manufacturing Facility

SAREPTA, La. — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and E.I. Williams Industries President Jim Williams announced the Canadian company will establish a Louisiana facility to manufacture industrial sound-control equipment in Webster Parish. E.I. Williams will create 100 new direct jobs at an existing facility in the North Webster Parish Industrial District, where the company will make a $700,000 capital investment.

E.I. Williams will create the 100 jobs over the next five years, with an average annual salary of $37,400, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in another 122 new indirect jobs, for a total of 222 new jobs in Northwest Louisiana. The company will lease a 50,000-square-foot building at the North Webster Parish industrial park, with manufacturing equipment to be installed in the first quarter of 2020.

“With a welcoming business climate, talented workforce and strong infrastructure, Louisiana remains an ideal destination for international business investments,” Gov. Edwards said. “On behalf of the State of Louisiana, I am proud to welcome E.I. Williams, and I am confident they will find success in Webster Parish. The company’s investment will create new economic opportunities for our people, and generate economic momentum for the region.”

Headquartered in Ajax near Toronto, E.I. Williams is renowned for designing and manufacturing vent silencers, fan silencers, industrial silencers and noise enclosures. The Webster Parish facility will be the company’s first manufacturing site in the U.S.

“We were approached to consider Louisiana at a conference meeting in Calgary, Alberta with representatives of the state, who then made all the arrangements for us to visit potential sites,” company President Jim Williams said. “We selected the Northwest Louisiana site due to its proximity to some of our largest customers, our ability to expand business into Central and South America, and most importantly the training opportunities that are available to our potential workforce. The teams at LED and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership made us feel incredibly welcome and were instrumental in making this project a reality. Louisiana’s hospitality – and the skilled and loyal workforce – convinced us to establish this new facility in Sarepta.”

Established in 1992, E.I. Williams serves a global client base, providing quality silencer and noise enclosure products for businesses and industries. E.I. Williams produces intake silencers and discharge silencers for rotary positive blowers; pod silencers for rotary positive blowers; fan silencers; centrifugal compressor silencers; vent silencers; engine silencers; and noise enclosures.

“This project will provide a much-needed economic boost for Webster Parish,” said Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall. “I want to thank the North Webster Parish Industrial District, North Louisiana Economic Partnership and Louisiana Economic Development for working tirelessly behind the scenes to put this deal together. E.I. Williams will find a good home in Webster Parish.”

LED began discussions with E.I. Williams about a potential manufacturing facility in June 2019. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart^® – the nation’s No. 1 state workforce development program for the past 10 years. The package also includes a $250,000 incentive from the state’s Economic Development Award Program, which will be used for infrastructure upgrades on-site. The company also is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“E.I. Williams’ new 100-job manufacturing project in North Webster Parish is a game-changer for this rural community,” said President Scott Martinez of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “NLEP worked with the company on identifying a building in our region and provided strategic support on site visits, workforce training and the lease agreement.”

“North Webster Parish Industrial District is very excited to welcome E.I. Williams Industries to our community,” said Jeff Harper, vice chairman of the district’s board. “The project will have a huge economic impact for North Webster Parish and proves that rural communities can compete and be attractive business locations.”

About E.I. Williams
Designing and developing superior quality products and services for businesses and industries since 1992, E.I. Williams is a renowned manufacturer of industrial silencers and noise enclosures, serving the global client base for more than 20 years. The company is a reputable and preferred industrial silencer center specialist, with business operations spanning North America. E.I. Williams presents specialized, fully integrated metal-fabrication facilities, well-equipped with CNC machines and automatic welding machines. For more information, visit eiWilliams.com.

About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana, and promotes business opportunity for employers of all sizes. In 2019, LED attracted more than 80 new economic development projects representing 12,300 new jobs, 15,500 retained jobs and over $8.4 billion in new capital investment. LED’s Small Business Services team assisted more than 9,500 Louisiana small businesses and entrepreneurs in 2019. For more information, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com.