New facility at England Airpark will create 102 potential new jobs and expand opportunities for the region’s timber and wood products industry.
ALEXANDRIA, LA (La. Central: 11/4/2026). – Robinson Carbon’s $16.3 million investment to establish its first industrial-scale biochar manufacturing facility at England Airpark in Rapides Parish, marks another significant advancement in Central Louisiana’s growing industrial and manufacturing economy.
The project is expected to create 42 direct new jobs and an additional 60 indirect jobs, according to Louisiana Economic Development (LED), representing 102 potential new employment opportunities across the region. The investment will also support the retention of 22 existing positions within Robinson Lumber Company, the fifth-generation, family-owned Louisiana business behind Robinson Carbon.
“My great-great-grandfather founded our company in New Orleans in 1893 selling Louisiana longleaf pine,” said Garner Robinson, CEO of Robinson Carbon. “ Since then, the products have changed many times over, but our passion for wood products hasn’t. 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.”
Robinson Carbon is the carbon products division of Robinson Lumber Company, founded in New Orleans in 1893. The company’s expansion into biochar manufacturing represents the latest evolution of a Louisiana business with more than 130 years of experience in the global wood products industry.
Two Rotary Drums
The facility will feature two rotary drum pyrolysis reactors, bringing industrial-scale production capabilities to Central Louisiana. The company has already relocated a pilot reactor from its New Albany, Indiana, operations to Alexandria to support workforce training and preparations for full-scale manufacturing.
“Robinson Carbon’s investment represents exactly the kind of economic growth we are working to accelerate across Central Louisiana,” said Chris Masingill, President and CEO of Louisiana Central. “We have a strong foundation in timber, wood products and manufacturing, and this project demonstrates how those traditional industries can evolve through innovation and new technology. By transforming locally sourced wood residuals into high-value products, Robinson Carbon is creating new markets for our natural resources, strengthening our regional supply chain and generating quality career opportunities for our workforce.”
The new facility will convert approximately 100,000 metric tons of Southern Yellow Pine residuals annually into an estimated 16,500 metric tons of biochar, a carbon-rich material used in agriculture, horticulture and environmental remediation. By sourcing residual materials from nearby sawmills, Robinson Carbon will create an additional market for Louisiana’s forestry and wood products industry while advancing innovative manufacturing practices.
The project also highlights the importance of collaboration among state, regional and local economic development partners. Louisiana Central recognizes the leadership of Governor Jeff Landry, LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois, England Economic and Industrial Development District Executive Director Ralph Hennessy, and the partners involved in bringing this investment to Rapides Parish.
“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.”
Expected to Begin
Construction is expected to begin in November 2026, with production anticipated in the second quarter of 2027. Robinson Carbon is currently recruiting employees for its Alexandria operations.
“Robinson Carbon’s $16.3 million investment is another example of how Central Louisiana is building on its traditional industry strengths to create new economic opportunities”, said Chris Masingill, President & CEO of Louisiana Central. “By connecting our region’s longstanding timber and wood products industry with innovative manufacturing technologies, this project strengthens our industrial base, creates high-quality jobs, and opens new markets for Louisiana’s natural resources. Investments like this demonstrate that Central Louisiana is well-positioned to compete for the next generation of industry while creating lasting economic opportunities for our people and communities.”
To secure the project in Alexandria, the state of Louisiana offered Robinson Carbon a competitive 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.
“Louisiana has long been a leader in turning our natural resources into products used around the world., said Susan B. Bourgeois, LED Secretary. “For more than 130 years, the Robinson family has been part of that history, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to Louisiana. 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.”
About Louisiana Central
Louisiana Central serves as the regional economic development organization for Central Louisiana’s 10-parish region. Through business development, workforce initiatives, entrepreneurship support and strategic partnerships, Louisiana Central works to grow the regional economy and create opportunities for residents and businesses throughout the region.
About Robinson Carbon
Robinson Carbon is an industrial biochar manufacturer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company permanently removes carbon by converting wood manufacturing residues that would otherwise combust or decompose into stable biochar for horticulture, agriculture, and pollution remediation. The company is the carbon products arm of Robinson Lumber Company, a sustainable wood products manufacturer founded in 1893 and led today by the fifth generation of the Robinson family. Robinson Lumber owns and operates manufacturing and concentration yards, buys directly from sawmills in rural communities across the United States and the global south, and serves customers in more than seventy countries. For more information, visit robinsoncarbon.com.
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