England Airpark project will create 42 direct jobs and convert Louisiana wood mill residuals into products for agriculture, horticulture and environmental remediation.
ALEXANDRIA, La. — Robinson Carbon will invest $16.3 million to establish an industrial-scale biochar manufacturing facility at England Airpark in Rapides Parish, bringing new manufacturing investment and employment opportunities to Central Louisiana.
The company expects to create 42 direct jobs and retain 22 existing positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will support another 60 indirect jobs, bringing the total to 102 potential new job opportunities.
Construction is expected to begin in November 2026, with production anticipated in the second quarter of 2027.
Turning Louisiana Wood Residuals Into Biochar
The Alexandria facility will use two rotary drum pyrolysis reactors to convert approximately 100,000 metric tons of Southern Yellow Pine residuals annually into 16,500 metric tons of biochar.
Robinson Carbon plans to source wood residuals from nearby mills, creating an additional market for materials generated by Louisiana’s wood products industry. The facility will manufacture biochar to customer specifications for agricultural, horticultural and pollution remediation applications.
The company has relocated a pilot reactor from its New Albany, Indiana, manufacturing site to Alexandria to train employees before full-scale operations begin.
Once certified under the Puro Standard, the facility is expected to generate approximately 40,000 CO2 Removal Certificates annually, each representing one metric ton of carbon dioxide removed.
Fifth-Generation Louisiana Business Enters a New Market
Robinson Carbon is the carbon products division of Robinson Lumber Company, a family-owned business founded in New Orleans in 1893. The investment extends the company’s wood products manufacturing and distribution operations into industrial biochar production.
“My great-great-grandfather founded our company in New Orleans in 1893 selling Louisiana longleaf pine. Since then, the products have changed many times over, but our passion for wood products hasn’t,” said Robinson Carbon CEO Garner Robinson. “Biochar is an exciting opportunity to make something truly new out of wood, and we look forward to planting new roots in Central Louisiana. We are grateful to Governor Landry, Secretary Bourgeois, the LED team, and to our partners, for helping us bring this project home to Louisiana.”
LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said the project demonstrates how innovation can expand markets for Louisiana’s established industries.
“Louisiana has long been a leader in turning our natural resources into products used around the world. For more than 130 years, the Robinson family has been part of that history, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to Louisiana,” Bourgeois said. “Their latest investment reflects how innovation is creating new possibilities across the sectors that have powered our economy for generations, strengthening our competitiveness while extending Louisiana’s foundational industries into new products and markets.”
England Airpark Supports Industrial Development
The project adds to England Airpark’s manufacturing base while connecting Central Louisiana’s timber resources with new production technologies.
“Robinson Carbon’s investment reinforces England Airpark’s position as a competitive location for advanced manufacturing and industrial development,” said Ralph Hennessy, executive director of the England Economic and Industrial Development District. “Our infrastructure, strategic location, and capacity for growth make England Airpark an ideal home for innovative companies like Robinson Carbon. We look forward to supporting the company’s continued success and expansion.”
Louisiana Central President and CEO Chris Masingill said the investment builds on the region’s established timber and wood products sector, creating jobs and opening additional markets for Louisiana’s natural resources.
State Incentives Support Alexandria Investment
Louisiana offered Robinson Carbon an incentives package that includes a $550,000 performance-based grant for site and infrastructure improvements.
The company is also expected to participate in the state’s High Impact Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.
Robinson Carbon is currently hiring for its Alexandria operations. Information about available positions is available at robinsoncarbon.com/#careers.
Louisiana businesses interested in vendor and contracting opportunities associated with development projects can register at SourceLouisiana.com.
About Robinson Carbon
Robinson Carbon is a New Orleans-based industrial biochar manufacturer that converts wood manufacturing residuals into stable biochar for agriculture, horticulture and pollution remediation. It is the carbon products division of Robinson Lumber Company, a fifth-generation family business founded in 1893 that serves customers in more than 70 countries.
For more information, visit robinsoncarbon.com.
About Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana Economic Development works to attract capital investment, support job creation and expand economic opportunities for businesses and residents statewide. Learn more at OpportunityLouisiana.com.
