Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. X I I I J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 2 3 18 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 N ew Balance touts shoes that are made in the U.S., and Maine is a beneficiary of that stance. e Boston-based maker of athletic footwear and apparel, which has global sales of $5.3 billion, is one of the few major shoe manufacturers still making shoes in Maine. e privately held company has Maine factories in Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway. Today, it has 780 employees. Early this month, the company broke ground on a $65 million, 120,000-square- foot expansion of its Skowhegan factory, to be completed by the end of 2024. NB Skowhegan, as the factory is known, has 270 employees and produces the shoe models known as MADE 996, 997, 998, and 1300. e plant was acquired by New Balance in 1981. e expansion will double capacity, increasing production to 1 million pairs of shoes a year, and add 200 jobs, bringing the company's total close to 1,000. e groundbreaking — held under a giant tent on a chilly, drizzly day in early June — was attended by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, Gov. Janet Mills, state and local officials, and top brass from New Balance, including president and CEO Joe Preston and the company's owners, Jim and Anne Davis. It was also attended by the factory's workers — most of whom were clad in T-shirts reading "New Balance #WeAreMakers" and New Balance sneakers (which they get at a discount). "Manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture," said Preston. "Our Maine associates have proven that high-quality athletic foot- wear can be produced in the U.S. Our Skowhegan factory expansion ensures their skilled craftsmanship and dedica- tion to continuous improvement will help us meet our significant U.S. and global consumer demand and drive future business growth." Made in the USA, MADE IN MAINE F O C U S R E N D E R / C O U R T E S Y O F N E W B A L A N C E P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N New Balance plans an expansion (top) of 120,000 square feet at its factory in Skowhegan. The expansion will cost $65 million and add 200 jobs. Overall, Maine has three New Balance plants and has 780 employees. Manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture. Our Maine associates have proven that high-quality athletic footwear can be produced in the U.S. — Joe Preston New Balance New Balance's $65 million factory expansion a boon for Skowhegan — and Maine B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n

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