July 5, 2006
Riviana Mill is Now Planter's Rice Mill
Wednesday, Riviana Mill in Abbeville opened its doors as Planter's Rice Mill.
The change-over officially began on July 1st, but Wednesday was the first day the mill has operated under new management.
Officials at the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce say while the new company won't operate on the same international scale as Riviana, Planter's Rice Mill will still be a vital part of the city's economy.
Rebecca Shirley with the chamber says it's needed not only for the employment base, but for the sales tax and property base. She says it's also needed for local farmers, which is important to the agricultural base in Vermilion Parish. She says there aren't a lot of mills left for farmers to take their rice to.
Elton Kennedy of Monroe leased the Riviana building to house Planter's Mill.
If the deal hadn't gone through, the mill could have closed its doors for good on August 30th.
June 30, 2006
Riviana Rice Mill Lay-Offs
The new lessee of the century-old Riviana Rice Mill in Abbeville is making some cuts to the mill's current staff.
Eyewitness News has learned a North Louisiana rice producer, Elton Kennedy, has signed a lease agreement with Riviana and will begin operating out of the mill, Saturday.
As a result, a number of key employees have been let go.
As you'll recall, about half of Riviana's staff was laid-off last year when owners announced they were selling the mill.
Neither party would discuss details of the agreement with Eyewitness News.
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