Greenberry Industrial, a Washington-based manufacturer and contractor serving a wide range of industrial markets, announced that it is in the process of converting a shipyard manufacturing facility into a manufacturing plant that will lead to a significant number of new jobs in the parish of Jefferson Davis.
The new plant will occupy the former Gulf Islands Shipyards facility located on 180 acres along the Mermentau River near Jennings. Greenberry will use the site to manufacture heavy industrial modules for the petrochemical, marine, energy, pulp and paper, and high-tech semiconductor industries.
The company will create 100 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $62,000 plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that the project will create 144 indirect jobs, for a total of 244 new jobs in the southwest region of Louisiana.
“Greenberry Industrial’s arrival in Louisiana strengthens our position as a prime location for investment by advanced manufacturing companies,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “This project continues Louisiana’s rural revitalization by bringing an underutilized site back to market and creating quality jobs in the process.”
Greenberry is investing $500,000 to modernize the facility with updated equipment. Installation is underway and hiring should begin at the end of March. The company expects site upgrades to be complete by the end of April, with business operations beginning shortly thereafter.
“Greenberry Industrial is very excited about expanding our Gulf Coast operation into Jefferson Davis Parish,” said Greenberry CEO Jarrett Pugh. “We look forward to partnering with the community to grow our business, while investing in the Jennings site and hiring new Greenberry employees from the area.”
Based in Vancouver, Washington, Greenberry is a wholly owned subsidiary of Issaquah, Washington-based NAES Corporation, a service provider to the broader energy industry. It has other facilities in Washington, Oregon, Montana, California and North Carolina.
Greenberry should use the state’s quality jobs program.
“Finding a tenant for the shipyard, putting the facility back on the market, and bringing quality, well-paying jobs back to our parish has been one of my primary goals,” said Creed Romano, President and CEO. by Jeff Davis Parish Economic Development. “We are fortunate to have Greenberry as a new corporate citizen to Jeff Davis and look forward to making them feel welcome in our community and working with them to ensure many years of success. We also thank our partners at Louisiana Economic Development for their assistance in this project. This is a big win for Jeff Davis Parish, our state and Southwest Louisiana.”
“The Jeff Davis Police Jury is thrilled to welcome Greenberry Industrial to our parish,” said Jeff Davis Police Jury Chairman Steve Eastman. “The arrival of the company will breathe new life into the former shipyard which had been a major employer in the parish since the mid-1950s. The creation of 100 new permanent full-time jobs will boost the local economy and open up opportunities of employment for the citizens of the parish.
“The SWLA Economic Development Alliance thanks Greenberry Industrial for establishing operations in Jeff Davis Parish,” said George Swift, president and CEO of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “The jobs created and the financial impact will help people in our region find jobs.”
