JENA, La. — Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal and UPS Midstream Services Inc. announced the company plans to invest more than $3.9 million in Jena, La., to construct and develop a new full-service machining facility to provide welding, fabrication, and equipment overhaul and repair. UPS Midstream, part of the Universal Plant Services Inc. family of companies, will create 95 new direct jobs paying an average salary of more than $73,000, plus benefits. LED estimates the project will result in an additional 121 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 200 new jobs in the Central Louisiana region and surrounding areas.
The new UPS Midstream Services facility in Jena will manufacture reciprocating compressor equipment, commonly used in many different industries, including refineries, power plants and companies in the petrochemical industry. The Jena facility will work primarily with companies that service pipelines across the United States.
Gov. Jindal said, "UPS Midstream Services joins a long list of companies investing in Louisiana. They could have made this investment in any other state, but they chose Louisiana for our strong business climate, world-class infrastructure and our skilled workforce. This project is great news for the residents of Central Louisiana, as UPS Midstream Services will bring 95 new high-paying jobs to the area, and we join them in their excitement as they begin this new chapter in Louisiana."
The new direct jobs will require high specialization and skill in a facility that will feature state-of-the-art, computer numerical control, or CNC, machines. Based in Deer Park, Texas, the company operates other facilities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Modesto, Calif., Mount Vernon, Wa., Baton Rouge, La., and Beaumont, Texas. The majority of its customers are based out-of-state, including several regional and nationwide accounts.
"Universal Plant Services is excited to continue our growth in the state of Louisiana with our investment in Jena to serve midstream operations across the United States," said CEO Bradley T. Jones of UPS Midstream Services. "We are pleased to be working with the Louisiana Economic Development team, which has done a great job of helping us plan for success in Jena and across the state."
LED began working UPS Midstream Services in June 2012. To secure the project, the state offered UPS Midstream a performance-based, $272,000 Economic Development Award Program grant and the customized screening, hiring and training services of LED FastStart™ – the nation's top-ranked state workforce development training program. The company also is expected to utilize the Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption incentive programs for its Jena project.
"Universal Plant Services will offer good new jobs and rewarding careers for the residents of the region," said President and CEO Jim Clinton of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. "CLEDA extends sincere congratulations to Mayor Murphy McMillin, the Town of Jena and the LaSalle Economic Development District on this important economic development victory. Jena is quickly becoming an emerging success story in Central Louisiana, both as a place to live and a place of economic opportunity."
UPS Midstream selected Jena for the new facility in order to better reach its customers in the South. The company also was attracted to the area for the local talent and expertise in the natural gas industry, a key industry served by UPS Midstream. The new direct jobs created by the construction of the facility will be added to UPS Midstream's 400 current employees.
Construction of the new UPS facility will begin in January 2013 and be completed in June 2013. Hiring for the project is under way, with 35 jobs to be filled in the first year, increasing to 95 jobs by 2017.
"Nearly a hundred new jobs is absolutely huge for a town like Jena," McMillin said. "The high-quality team at UPS is full of talent. They were aggressive and bold in their thinking. We want them – and the new talent they will recruit – to feel at home here. We will continue our efforts to create an environment that encourages additional manufacturing jobs and later becomes regional headquarters for Universal Plant Services right here in Jena, Louisiana."
About Universal Plant Services
Founded in 1986, Universal Plant Services Inc. (UPS) is the leading provider of rotating and reciprocating machinery services in the industry, delivering more than 1.4 million man-hours of service annually. Customers trust UPS with the care of their business-critical turbines, pumps, compressors and components because of the company's commitment to safety and quality. The in-depth knowledge of UPS expert craftsmen provides innovative solutions to customer repair or maintenance needs. Headquartered in Deer Park, Texas, UPS has seven full-service facilities throughout the Gulf Coast and West Coast regions. Family owned, privately held and customer-focused, UPS provides the personal attention of a trusted business ally. For more information, visit www.universalplant.com.