Weyerhaeuser Co. said July 7 it will permanently close a lumber mill in Louisiana effective immediately due to declining demand for wood products.
The closing of the company's iLevel mill near Taylor, La., will affect nearly 40 employees at the site. The Tree Improvement Center and the Timberlands office will remain open and continue to operate in Bienville Parish near the Taylor community.
"This was a very difficult decision impacting employees who have performed well," said Tom Gideon, executive vice president, Forest Products. "Unfortunately, the current extraordinarily weak market conditions require that we take decisive action. We fully understand the major impact of this closure on our employees, contractors, and the Taylor community, and we will work constructively in the weeks and months ahead on the transition."
Weyerhaeuser Company continues to employ approximately 924 employees in Louisiana and owns and manages more than 1 million acres of timber in the state.