Looking to double the production capacity to one million pairs of shoes at its factory in Skowhegan, ME, New Balance recently revealed plans to invest $65 million in construction and capital equipment at the facility. The plan entails building a 120,000-square-foot addition to the existing five-story factory building, with an additional 20,000-square feet of the existing building undergoing renovations. 

Plans call for completion of the expansion in late 2024, with some move-in beginning that summer.

According to the Bangor Daily News, John Campbell, New Balance’s VP–corporate services,  said the expansion is responding to consumer demand for its U.S. Made line.

“We’ve been here for over 40 years and in our 116-year history, we have never taken on a manufacturing project as strategic [and] instrumental,” Campbell said at a recent meeting of the Skowhegan Select Board, pointing out the company has never invested this much in manufacturing. “We’ve decided to do it here in Skowhegan if we can make it work.”

According to the Bangor Daily News, New Balance has owned the Skowhegan facility for over 40 years. In March, the company opened an 80,000-square-foot facility in Methuen, MA, and expected to produce 750,000 pairs of sneakers yearly. 

Including the Skowhegan and Methuen properties, New Balance owns five manufacturing plants across Maine and Massachusetts that employ approximately 1000. 

In other news at new Balance,  The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) will honor New Balance with its Company of the Year award during its 2023 American Image Awards April 25 in New York City.

The annual event celebrates outstanding leaders and companies for excellence and achievement working in the apparel and footwear industry. The event benefits the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation, marking the seventh year of the organization’s philanthropic partnership.