When St. Tammany Box Co., 205 Street A, in the Picayune Industrial Park,, moved to Picayune on Aug. 1, 2005, it wasn’t but about four weeks later that Katrina greeted the company, said Scott Dubroc, operations manager.

St. Tammany Box was the first stop of a four-industry tour on Friday by Partners for Pearl River County board members, seeking information and ways to help existing industries.

Partners executive director Ron Fine several months ago told board members that existing industries generate probably 80 percent of the new jobs in an area through expansion.

Fine asked board members to accompany him on a fact-finding tour of existing industries to find out if there are any planning an expansion, and if so, how Partners can help them out.

He said there might be other areas, too, in which they can help industries here.

Partners is an economic development organization that used to be called the Pearl River County Development Agency. It was formed in the early 1970s.

Dubroc, whose company manufactures boxes from plain sheet cardboard, said orders have been slow, but the economy does seem to be “picking up,” along with orders. The company manufactures cardboard and paper boxes and prints logos on them. The company also manufactures other paper and cardboard products used in packaging.

They ship boxes all over the United States and ship some internationally.

If you get a box of doughnuts at Paul’s Pastry, the box they come in was made right here in Picayune at St. Tammany Box.

The company, said Dubroc, was formerly located in Lacombe, La., in St. Tammany Parish, and found what he believes is a better location in Picayune. Dubroc said the company “has been happy with the move.”

The company employs 20 people.

He said that Katrina did do some damage to the plant, but the damage was not major.

Next week Partners board members plan to tour some industries in Poplarville, said Fine.