Honeywell Completes $33M Expansion Project in Baton Rouge

By Adrian Maties, Associate Editor

Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies announced last month the completion of a $33 million modernization project to extend the life of a manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge.

The existing plant manufactures chemical and refrigerant gases. The project included the construction of a new production line for one of the company’s environmentally preferable products, with uses in energy-efficient insulation and in aerosol and refrigerant applications.

According to Louisiana Governor Jindal’s office, the project helped retain 200 existing jobs, and created  11 new direct jobs, with an average annual salary of $64,000, plus benefits. It also resulted in 52 new indirect jobs.

The Louisiana Economic Development’s Business Expansion and Retention Group first started working with Honeywell in 2010, to convince the company to remain and expand in Louisiana. The state offered a a $1.25 million Modernization Tax Credit, to be claimed over five years, on capital upgrades to existing facilities. Honeywell chose Baton Rouge for the modernization project over other sites in Asia and Europe.

Honeywell is also working on four other projects in Louisiana. The company announced in July, 2013, its plans to invest $208 million in manufacturing projects at Shreveport, Geismar and two plants in Baton Rouge. At that time, Honeywell said the investments could generate more than 500 new direct and indirect jobs in the state.