PB Community Impact Fund provided $12 million of New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to Huber Engineered Woods, LLC (HEW) to finance the construction and equipping of a new 400,000 SF oriented strand board mill manufacturing facility in Shuqualak, MS. Shuqualak is in Noxubee County, which is designated as a persistent poverty county due to having a countywide poverty rate of more than 20% for the past three decades. Additionally, Noxubee County falls in the Black Belt Region, which is characterized by economic distress and is home to a large African American community with historical ties to slavery and cotton farming.

 

HEW produces eco-friendly strand boards, a type of engineered wood commonly used for home construction, formed by adding adhesives and compressing layers of wood strands. The primary oriented strand board types are integrated structure panels and AvenTech subflooring, which are designed to improve energy efficiency by better insulating buildings. HEW’s manufacturing and timber procurement processes incorporate green and environmentally friendly practices to minimize their environmental impact, such as using 100% of the timber purchased to achieve Zero Waste-to-Landfill criteria.

 

The Project was needed to expand HEW’s production capacity and create a more efficient, eco-friendly facility. Due to the Project being in one of the most economically distressed areas in the United States, HEW needed NMTC financing to invest in the infrastructure necessary to develop a site comparable to one in a less distressed area. This allowed HEW to operate more efficiently and sustainably while supporting the Noxubee County community through industry growth and new quality job opportunities for low-income workers. 

 

To recruit and train local job seekers, HEW works with East Mississippi Community College, Mississippi State University, Accelerate MS, MS Career Coach Outreach, Noxubee County School District, Kemper County School District, and MS Band of Choctaw Indians training outreach. HEW provides all employees with a benefits package that includes health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, adoption assistance, education and training, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and access to a 401(k)-retirement savings plan. All employees can request training in other departments to advance their careers. In the last eight years, HEW has provided 67% of its low-skilled operations and laborer employees across all mill locations with a promotion.

 

The Project received strong support from the Executive Director of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association William Scaggs, State Sen. Rod Hickman, Noxubee County Supervisor Eddie Coleman, and Mississippi Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Laura Hipp. Overall, the Project aligns with the goals of the low-income community and will improve its economic health through tax revenue generation, sustainability, and job creation.