Sherevport, La - Prolec GE USA, a joint venture between Xignux and General Electric, is set to invest up to $28.5m to expand its Caddo Parish facility in Louisiana.

The expansion will enable the company to manufacture electrical transformers that are used in wind farms, solar parks, and other renewable energy applications. The company expects to create 153 new jobs including machine operators, maintenance personnel, supervisors, and engineers, while retaining 282 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 162 new indirect jobs. Prolec GE's new line is expected to begin construction in June, with a target completion date of March 2024 and full production capacity by June 2024.

Prolec GE designs, manufactures and sells products and solutions for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, and is North America's largest transformer producer, serving a variety of industries including construction, engineering, and conventional and renewable energy. The additional production capacity in Shreveport will help ease transformer supply chain concerns in the US. To secure the project, the state of Louisiana offered Prolec GE a competitive incentives package that includes the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart as well as a performance-based award of $500,000 for construction, equipment, and implementation of the new product line. 

Mayor Tom Arceneaux of Shreveport is excited about the company's capital investment and the jobs it will bring to Shreveport and Caddo Parish, stating that "existing companies are willing to reinvest in the local community and help grow our workforce". Meanwhile, Justyn Dixon, CEO of North Louisiana Economic Partnership, praised the investment as a "substantial contribution" to the area's economy, and "a testament to north Louisiana's steadfast workforce and strong business climate".

Source: opportunitylouisiana.gov