New Balance Skowhegan Factory Expansion Groundbreaking Celebrates Company’s Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing and Maine
Skowhegan, ME – June 5, 2023 – Boston-based global athletic leader New Balance broke ground today on the expansion of its current athletic footwear manufacturing factory in Skowhegan, Maine. New Balance’s $65 million investment will add 200 new jobs and double the factory’s production capabilities through a 120,000- square-foot single-story addition that will be completed by the end of 2024. NB Skowhegan’s expansion reflects New Balance’s strong commitment to domestic manufacturing and showcases its longstanding pride in the American craftsmanship and innovation of its Maine associates.
“ Manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture,” said Joe Preston, New Balance President & CEO. “Our Maine associates have proven that high-quality athletic footwear can be produced in the U.S. Our Skowhegan factory expansion ensures their skilled craftsmanship and dedication to continuous improvement will help us meet our significant U.S. and global consumer demand and drive future business growth.”
“Maine is the best place in the world to run a business, raise a family, or base a manufacturing plant,” said Governor Janet Mills and Senators Susan Collins and Angus King. “Our people’s legendary work ethic and legacy of craftsmanship produces high-quality products that are sought out around the globe. We’re excited by New Balance’s significant, job-creating investment in the Skowhegan community and look forward to seeing its lasting impact for years to come.”
NB Skowhegan currently employs approximately 270 associates producing the brand’s popular MADE 996, 997, 998, and 1300 shoe models, and was purchased by New Balance in 1981.
“ We are proud to be part of the Maine business community for more than 40 years and excited to add 200 new jobs as part of our Skowhegan factory expansion,” says Dave Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer at New Balance. “New Balance is continuing to make significant investments across innovation and machinery to enable a strong and responsive MADE U.S. supply network.”
New Balance is proactively working to innovate and expand its domestic supplier network for its MADE U.S. footwear as well as drive new automation and robotics opportunities to enhance associate safety and ergonomics and increase productivity.
The expansion will construct a 120,000 sq. ft. single-story addition to the existing 5-story factory building with an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of the existing building also being renovated. Current manufacturing operations will continue during the construction phase. The NB Skowhegan expansion design, engineering and construction is being managed by Greenleaf Construction.
As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, New Balance announced a $250,000 gift to the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) 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 Domestic Manufacturing at New Balance. “We’re thrilled to be able to support this important opportunity to add quality, affordable education and childcare resources for local families.”
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New Balance MADE footwear that is produced in the U.S. contains a domestic value of 70% or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales. New Balance is the only major athletic shoe manufacturer that has maintained factories in the United States.
Including NB Skowhegan, New Balance owns five manufacturing facilities in Maine and Massachusetts where approximately 1,300 U.S. workers prepare, cut, and mold athletic shoe materials and components and then sew, press, and assemble them into the final product. The company opened its fifth U.S. athletic shoe factory in Methuen, MA in 2022.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. Manufactured in the U.S. for more than 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance MADE U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic
value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs 8,000 associates around the globe, and in 2022 reported worldwide sales of $5.3 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please
visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.
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