Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S L E W I S T O N / A U B U R N / W E S T E R N M A I N E e night before the Senate vote, King made calls to 3 or 4 key Republicans, urging them to support the measure that required the DoD to comply with the Berry Amendment. e measure passed. "John McCain was pissed," King recalled. He walked up to King and in a deadpan voice said: "You're dead to me." King said he and McCain later became good friends. "It showed," King said, "that American manufacturing is impor- tant. American jobs are important." And it had a significant impact on New Balance's operations in Maine, where shoes for the military are manufactured. "Ten years ago people said that was impossible," King said. "Jim and Anne Davis showed confidence in American manufacturing." He added: "You can't make an American economy taking in people's laundry." The expansion At the same time New Balance plans to add employees, it has also driven innovation with the use of robotics and other technology that saves time and improves worker safety. e expansion, which will be over- seen by Leonminster, Mass.-based Green Leaf Construction, calls for an addition of 120,000 square feet connected to the existing five-story factory. It also calls for renovation of 20,000 square feet of existing space. Manufacturing operations will not be affected during the construction, which is expected to wind up by the end of next year. Green Leaf Construction will handle design, engineering and construction. As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, New Balance announced a $250,000 gift to the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program in support of the Skowhegan Area Early Childhood Education Center that will be built as part of the new MSAD 54 Margaret Chase Smith Community School. "New Balance has always been strongly committed to the communities where our associates live and work," says Raye Wentworth, director of domes- tic manufacturing at New Balance. "We're thrilled to be able to support this important opportunity to add qual- ity, affordable education and childcare resources for local families." Peter Van Allen, Mainebiz editor, can be r e a ch e d a t p vanal l e n @ m ai n e bi z . b i z a n d @ M a i n e b i z E d i t o r Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com Client Success Delivered by Generations of Knowledge For 50 years, The Dunham Group has been known for its in- depth market knowledge and trustworthy representation. With a strong culture of collaboration, knowledge is shared from one generation of brokers to the next. This not only helps carry the firm forward, but it sets our clients up for continued success. Put Our Decades of Experience to Work for You. OFFICES IN SOUTH PORTLAND, BRIDGTON, SANFORD/SPRINGVALE, AND BATH, MAINE Maine's CREATIVE ENGINEERING COLLECTIVE BRING US YOUR VISION Proudly serving the Lewiston/Auburn, Oxford Hills, and Lakes Region communities. We are all shaping Maine, together. We ar 100% EMPLOYEE-OWNED

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