“We’ve been talking about this project for at least 15 years. “They have tremendous demand for their products right now,” Hewett said. The same is true for New Balance, which wants to spend an estimated $65 million to expand its operations with a 120,000-square-foot addition to its factory that would bring 200 jobs to Skowhegan. The company has consistently invested in its mill, which is one of its premier facilities in the country, and the move is driven by market demand, Hewett said. Of the projects totaling about $650 million, Sappi’s $418 million investment to boost the production of packing and speciality papers at its Somerset Mill is the largest. 14, 2021, file photo, the Sappi paper mill is seen in Skowhegan. Hard-working people are still there, and improvements coming in the next several years should boost their lives and the local economy, he said.

Skowhegan has long been known for its shoemakers and workers at textile and paper mills, said Burnham, who now works as a consultant and on special historical projects. “The town has gotten to a place where it’s being noticed and sees potential for growth and for the fact that we have good, working people.” “I think it’s wonderful,” said Melvin Burnham, a resident and retired director of the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center. Community leaders hope the investments bring more jobs, activities and businesses to keep people in the area. “We’ve known this project has been going on and have talked at length to see what we could do to connect and support that,” Campbell said.For Skowhegan’s residents, this means more jobs and chances to be involved in shaping the community, said Jeff Hewett, the town’s director of economic and community development. Campbell and Govoni also talked about ensuring associates have access to nearby walking paths. One of those connectors falls adjacent to the New Balance building, so he’d like to see the company and town coordinate efforts, specifically for drainage, he said. The town’s committees are working on interconnectivity between the downtown, schools, bike paths and recreational areas, said Steven Govoni, a Select Board member. In 1981, New Balance bought the space.Ĭampbell wants to work closely with town officials to make the plans a reality and discuss tax-increment financing, he said. In 1915, the American Woolen Mill bought the building and operated there for several years, with workers later converting it to a shoe factory again. In 1907, the Marston Worsted Mill, also known as the Anderson and Arms Mill, opened and produced fabric. of Boston in 1899, according to Campbell’s presentation. leased it in 1893, and then Commonwealth Shoe Co. from Massachusetts leased the factory for a decade.

Operations started in 1883 when the Keene Brothers Shoe Co. “It’s challenging, but it’s something that is going to be a great opportunity not only for New Balance, but certainly the community at large.” “We’re very excited about this,” he said. The company has about 13 acres on the mill parcel and has acquired portions of the old Skowhegan Savings Bank and former ANC Auto Sales dealership, which would be demolished, he said. The company would develop adjacently owned parcels to provide adequate parking, essentially creating a New Balance campus, Campbell said.

The expansion would double annual production capacity to 1 million pairs of footwear, and grow New Balance’s workforce to about 450, up from approximately 250 now, he said. “We’ve decided to do it here in Skowhegan if we can make it work.”Ĭampbell presented his plans to the Skowhegan Select Board during a meeting Tuesday evening. “We’ve been here for over 40 years, and in our 116-year history, we have never taken on a manufacturing project as strategic instrumental,” Campbell said, pointing out the company has never invested this much in manufacturing. It’s also part of a transformation happening in the Somerset County town, including the $8.6 million proposed Skowhegan River Park and related downtown revitalization reimagining of the Spinning Mill to include a brewery, apartments and hotel and other efforts.

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