Hood Ind. to replace plywood plant destroyed by tornado

BEAUMONT, Miss. – Hood Industries broke ground May 4 for constructing a laminated plywood manufacturing plant to replace a facility crippled by a tornado in April 2022.

The new facility, scheduled to open in early 2025, represents an intended investment of more than $200 million and will reportedly create 265 direct jobs. It will operate at twice the capacity of the former operation.

“After a devastating tornado shut this plant down, some would have left,” said Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. “But not this team, and not this company.” 

Hood has received assistance from several government agencies for the project including:

  • Infrastructure and site development from the Mississippi Development Authority
  • Training grant from AccelerateMS 
  • Assistance from Perry County and the town of Beaumont.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new plywood plant occured less than two weeks after a massive fire broke out at Hood Industries'  sawmill operation in Bogalusa, La. More than 100 firefighters from 15 fire departments extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Hood operates one plywood manufacturing plant, four lumber manufacturing plants. and 15 wood products distribution centers in 14 states. The company serves Northeast, Southeast and Southwest United States.

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Rich Christianson | President/Owner/C-Level

Rich Christianson is the owner of Richson Media LLC, a Chicago-based communications firm focused on the industrial woodworking sector. Rich is the former long-time editorial director and associate publisher of Woodworking Network. During his nearly 35-year career, Rich has toured more than 250 woodworking operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia and has written extensively on woodworking technology, design and supply trends. He has also directed and promoted dozens of woodworking trade shows, conferences and seminars including the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo and the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo, Canada’s largest woodworking show.