Halliburton To Build Components Plant

Company said Tuesday that it will build a $65 million plant in Lafayette, Louisiana to manufacture oilfield service components, employing 150 people.

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -- Halliburton Co. said Tuesday that it will build a $65 million plant in Lafayette to manufacture oilfield service components, employing 150 people.

In a joint announcement with Gov. Bobby Jindal, Houston-based Halliburton said construction on the 200,000-square-foot plant would begin by July, requiring 250 construction workers.

The plant will manufacture complex components for oilfield service operations. In addition to product assembly, the plant will perform component testing.

Jindal said the facility would boost both the manufacturing and petroleum sectors of the Acadiana-area economy with its annual $8 million payroll. Greg Gothreaux, chief executive of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, said the city hosts about 900 businesses with ties to the petroleum industry.

"With Lafayette's strong workforce and economy, access to major transportation zones, and the Louisiana FastStart program to help hire and train our employees, this is a great place to grow our business," said Halliburton senior vice president Marc Edwards.

Besides the employee hiring-training program, Halliburton's state incentive package includes a $2 million grant for site acquisition and infrastructure improvements, eligibility for industrial tax exemptions and a state rebate of 5 percent to 6 percent on its payroll.

Halliburton said about 2,800 of its employees live and work in Louisiana. The company has about 60,000 employees working in 80 countries.
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