New Balance opens new $65 million Maine factory expansion

New Balance Co. officially opened a new $65 million shoe factory expansion at its factory in Skowhegan, Maine, September 22. In a company release, the company said the 120,000-square-foot single-story expansion part of an ongoing strategy to add to its U.S.-based supplier network.

According to local news site centralmaine.com, the newly expanded factory will consolidate existing jobs from its existing plant in Skowhegan with those from the company’s shuttered Norridgewock factory. Before Norridgewock’s closure and Skowhegan’s expansion, each plant employed about 200 workers and featured four product lines each: The newly-expanded Skowhegan site employs 400 on eight production lines.

In remarks to Central Maine, New Balance VP of MADE Manufacturing Kevin McCoy said that putting workers in the same building should smooth production by eliminating the need to call workers in from other locations, and that the newly-expanded factory has new “state-of-the-art” equipment and a superior factory layout than either of the old sites.

According to local news site Wabi 5, the new location should have an annual production capacity of about one million shoes.

What people are saying

“U.S. manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture,” said Joe Preston, New Balance President & CEO. “We believe that when we think global but act local, we can better serve the local communities where our associates live and work, while also enhancing our focus on the craftsmanship and quality integral to our global business.” 

“This is a great day for Skowhegan, for the entire state of Maine, and for the American manufacturing industry. New Balance’s $65 million investment in this factory is a testament to an increased demand for that ‘Made in USA’ label here and around the world, a label New Balance keeps alive and well in the footwear industry,” said Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). “Here in Maine, shoemaking is more than just a job - it is part of our heritage. Thanks to the dedicated New Balance team, it is also part of our future.”

“Maine has a long tradition of manufacturing and producing high quality goods including footwear,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME). “The talented men and women who work at New Balance are an important part of that legacy. Thanks to this new $65 million investment in the Skowhegan manufacturing facility, New Balance will be able to continue making shoes in Maine for years to come. I am excited to support this project – in addition to the added jobs that will be available for Maine people, now even more people across the country will be able to experience the quality of ‘Maine-made’ products. It’s a win-win.”

“We are extremely proud to be part of the Maine business community for more than 40 years,” said Dave Wheeler, New Balance COO. “New Balance Central Maine elevates our U.S. manufacturing capabilities and furthers our commitment to our Maine associates for generations ahead.”