New Balance celebrated the opening of New Balance Central Maine, its recently expanded athletic footwear factory in Skowhegan, ME, on Monday, September 22, reinforcing the company’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing.
“U.S. manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture,” stated Joe Preston, New Balance president and CEO. “We believe that when we think global but act local, we can better serve the local communities where our associates live and work, while also enhancing our focus on the craftsmanship and quality integral to our global business.”
New Balance reported the expansion as a “$65 million investment” that added a 120,000-square-foot single-story expansion to the existing five-story factory building that it purchased in 1981. An additional 20,000 square feet of the existing building is also being renovated.
New Balance Central Maine employs 400 people, where the company manufacturers is MADE athletic shoes.
“This is a great day for Skowhegan, for the entire state of Maine and for the American manufacturing industry. New Balance’s $65 million investment in this factory is a testament to an increased demand for that ‘Made in USA’ label here and around the world, a label New Balance keeps alive and well in the footwear industry,” said Maine Senator Susan Collins. “Here in Maine, shoemaking is more than just a job; it is part of our heritage. Thanks to the dedicated New Balance team, it is also part of our future.”
“Maine has a long tradition of manufacturing and producing high-quality goods, including footwear,” said Maine Senator Angus King. “The talented men and women who work at New Balance are an important part of that legacy. Thanks to this new $65 million investment in the Skowhegan manufacturing facility, New Balance will be able to continue making shoes in Maine for years to come. I am excited to support this project in addition to the added jobs that will be available for Maine people. Now, even more people across the country will be able to experience the quality of ‘Maine-made’ products. It’s a win-win.”
“There’s a long, proud history of shoemaking in our state and, with this investment, New Balance is helping to make sure that that heritage lives on for another generation,” said Maine Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02). “This additional manufacturing capacity will support New Balance’s ability to produce high-quality footwear right here in Maine. That’s good news not only for Skowhegan and the company’s hundreds of workers, but for all of us who want to see domestic manufacturing thrive.”
“We are extremely proud to be part of the Maine business community for more than 40 years,” stated Dave Wheeler, chief operating officer at New Balance. “New Balance Central Maine elevates our U.S. manufacturing capabilities and furthers our commitment to our Maine associates for generations ahead.”
Including NB Central Maine, New Balance owns five vertical manufacturing plants in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire (opening Fall 2025), employing roughly 1,200 U.S. workers. New Balance also employs approximately 600 workers across its NB Central Maine and NB Norway factories, as well as retail locations in Kittery, Oxford and Skowhegan, ME.
New Balance reports that its “MADE footwear, produced in the U.S., contains a domestic value of 70 percent or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales.”
Images courtesy New Balance
