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New\u00a0Balance\u00a0Central\u00a0Maine\u00a0reflects\u00a0the company\u2019s deep pride in American craftsmanship, significant investments in\u00a0 innovation and machinery, and integration of\u00a0lean\u00a0manufacturing processes to enable a demand-driven and responsive\u00a0MADE\u00a0U.S. supply network.<\/p>\n
New Balance has opened its expanded Central Maine factory in Skowhegan, adding a 120,000 sq. ft. single-story facility and renovating 20,000 sq. ft. of the original building as part of a $65 million investment.
\nThe site now employs 400 associates, strengthens US footwear production, and supports community projects including a $75,000 donation to Main Street Skowhegan.<\/p>\n
\u201cU.S. manufacturing has always been\u00a0at\u00a0the core of our company\u00a0culture,\u201d\u00a0says Joe Preston, New\u00a0Balance\u00a0President &\u00a0CEO<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0believe that when we think global but\u00a0act\u00a0local,\u00a0we\u00a0can\u00a0better serve the\u00a0local\u00a0communities where our associates\u00a0live\u00a0and work, while\u00a0also\u00a0enhancing our focus on the craftsmanship and quality\u00a0integral\u00a0to our global business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n New\u00a0Balance\u2019s\u00a0$65\u00a0million\u00a0investment added a 120,000 sq. ft. single-story expansion to the existing\u00a05-\u00a0story factory building that was purchased by the company\u00a0in\u00a01981.\u00a0\u00a0The expansion allowed for the company\u2019s regional associates to join together\u00a0in\u00a0a best-in-class manufacturing operation.\u00a0\u00a0An additional 20,000 sq. ft. of the existing building\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0being renovated.\u00a0\u00a0New\u00a0Balance\u00a0Central\u00a0Maine\u00a0currently employs 400 associates producing the brand\u2019s popular\u00a0MADE\u00a0athletic shoes.<\/p>\n \u201cThis\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0great\u00a0day for Skowhegan, for the entire state of\u00a0Maine,\u00a0and for the\u00a0American\u00a0manufacturing industry. New\u00a0Balance\u2019s\u00a0$65\u00a0million\u00a0investment\u00a0in\u00a0this factory\u00a0is\u00a0a testament to\u00a0an\u00a0increased\u00a0demand for that \u2018Made\u00a0in\u00a0USA\u2019 label here and around the world, a label New\u00a0Balance\u00a0keeps\u00a0alive\u00a0and well\u00a0in\u00a0the footwear industry,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Senator Susan Collins<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0\u201cHere\u00a0in\u00a0Maine,\u00a0shoemaking\u00a0is\u00a0more\u00a0than just a job –\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0part\u00a0of our\u00a0heritage.\u00a0Thanks to the dedicated New\u00a0Balance\u00a0team,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0also\u00a0part\u00a0of our future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaine\u00a0has a long tradition of manufacturing and producing\u00a0high\u00a0quality goods including footwear,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Senator <\/strong>Angus King<\/strong><\/em>. \u201cThe talented\u00a0men\u00a0and women who work\u00a0at\u00a0New\u00a0Balance\u00a0are\u00a0an\u00a0important\u00a0part\u00a0of that\u00a0legacy.\u00a0Thanks to this new $65\u00a0million\u00a0investment\u00a0in\u00a0the Skowhegan manufacturing\u00a0facility,\u00a0New\u00a0Balance\u00a0will be\u00a0able\u00a0to continue making shoes\u00a0in\u00a0Maine\u00a0for\u00a0years\u00a0to come. I\u00a0am\u00a0excited to support this project \u2013\u00a0in\u00a0addition to the added jobs that will be\u00a0available\u00a0for\u00a0Maine\u00a0people, now even\u00a0more\u00a0people across the country will be\u00a0able\u00a0to experience the quality of\u00a0\u2018Maine-made\u2019\u00a0products. It\u2019s a win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0a long, proud history of shoemaking\u00a0in\u00a0our state and with this investment, New\u00a0Balance\u00a0is\u00a0helping to\u00a0make\u00a0sure that that\u00a0heritage\u00a0lives\u00a0on for another generation,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Congressman\u00a0Jared\u00a0Golden\u00a0(ME-02)<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0\u201cThis\u00a0additional manufacturing\u00a0capacity\u00a0will support New\u00a0Balance\u2019s\u00a0ability\u00a0to produce high-quality footwear\u00a0right\u00a0here\u00a0in\u00a0Maine.\u00a0That\u2019s good news not only for Skowhegan and the company\u2019s hundreds of workers, but for\u00a0all\u00a0of us who want to see domestic manufacturing thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0extremely\u00a0proud to be\u00a0part\u00a0of the\u00a0Maine\u00a0business community for\u00a0more\u00a0than 40 years,\u201d says\u00a0Dave\u00a0Wheeler,\u00a0Chief\u00a0Operating\u00a0Officer\u00a0at\u00a0New\u00a0Balance<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNew\u00a0Balance\u00a0Central\u00a0Maine\u00a0elevates our U.S. manufacturing\u00a0capabilities\u00a0and furthers our commitment to our\u00a0Maine\u00a0associates for generations ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n New\u00a0Balance\u00a0is\u00a0proactively working to innovate and expand its domestic supplier network for its\u00a0MADE\u00a0US footwear while\u00a0also\u00a0driving new automation and robotics opportunities to enhance associate safety and ergonomics and\u00a0increase\u00a0productivity.<\/p>\n As\u00a0part\u00a0of the opening, New\u00a0Balance\u00a0announced a $75,000\u00a0gift\u00a0to\u00a0Main\u00a0Street Skowhegan to support their\u00a0River\u00a0Park\u00a0project\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0the donation of New\u00a0Balance\u00a0trail\u00a0running and hiking footwear to their Outdoor\u00a0Gear\u00a0Lending\u00a0Library.<\/p>\n \u201cNew\u00a0Balance\u00a0has always been strongly committed to our\u00a0local\u00a0Maine\u00a0communities,\u201d says Nate Nixon,\u00a0Regional\u00a0Manufacturing\u00a0Manager\u00a0at\u00a0New\u00a0Balance<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0excited to be\u00a0able\u00a0to support Maine Street Skowhegan\u2019s\u00a0River\u00a0Park\u00a0that will benefit\u00a0area\u00a0residents and our\u00a0local\u00a0economy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew\u00a0Balance\u2019s\u00a0generous\u00a0gift\u00a0is\u00a0both\u00a0an\u00a0investment\u00a0in\u00a0our shared vision for Skowhegan and a testament to their leadership\u00a0as\u00a0a community partner,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Kristina Cannon, President &\u00a0CEO\u00a0of\u00a0Main\u00a0Street Skowhegan<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0\u201cTheir\u00a0donation of footwear to our Skowhegan Outdoors\u00a0gear\u00a0lending library further expands\u00a0access\u00a0to the outdoors, and together these contributions help position our\u00a0region\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0premier\u00a0outdoor\u00a0recreation\u00a0hub that will benefit residents, visitors, and businesses for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Including NB\u00a0Central\u00a0Maine,\u00a0New\u00a0Balance\u00a0owns five manufacturing\u00a0facilities\u00a0in\u00a0Maine,\u00a0Massachusetts and New Hampshire (opening\u00a0Fall\u00a02025) where approximately 1,200 U.S. workers prepare, cut, and mold\u00a0materials\u00a0and components of athletic shoes; and sew, press, and manufacture those\u00a0materials\u00a0and components into the\u00a0final\u00a0product. New\u00a0Balance\u00a0currently employs approximately 600 associates across its NB Central\u00a0Maine\u00a0and NB Norway factories and retail locations\u00a0in\u00a0Kittery, Oxford and Skowhegan.\u00a0<\/p>\n New\u00a0Balance\u00a0MADE\u00a0footwear that\u00a0is\u00a0produced\u00a0in\u00a0the U.S. contains a domestic value of 70% or\u00a0more\u00a0and\u00a0makes\u00a0up a\u00a0limited\u00a0portion of New\u00a0Balance\u2019s\u00a0U.S. sales.\u00a0\u00a0New\u00a0Balance\u00a0is\u00a0the only\u00a0major\u00a0athletic shoe manufacturer that has maintained factories\u00a0in\u00a0the United States.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n\tNote: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.<\/h6>\n