A provision requiring the Department of Defense to provide military recruits with American-made shoes could mean an additional 250,000 sneakers a year, according to Brendan Melley, New Balance’s director of manufacturing.
Melley touted the figure Wednesday as three members of Maine’s congressional delegation visited a New Balance factory in Skowhegan, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Melley said that while the company could make more profits by sourcing overseas, the company manufactured in Maine to “do what’s right.”
As reported, included in the final version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) approved last week is language directing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to comply with the Berry Amendment and provide 100-percent American-made athletic footwear to recruits upon their initial entry to basic training. The Department of Defense has been providing a cash allowance to new service members for foreign-made athletic footwear. The provision will be implemented over the course of the next two years.
Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin toured the Skowhegan plant on Wednesday. All three had long pushed for the legislation. New Balance, which employs 900 workers in Maine, also has factories in Norridgewock and Norway.
Photo courtesy New Balance
