New Balance Opens Expanded Maine Factory

SKOWHEGAN, MAINE (September 22, 2025) – New Balance celebrated the opening of New Balance Central Maine, its recently expanded athletic footwear factory in Skowhegan, which the company said reinforces its strong commitment to U.S. manufacturing. 

New Balance Central Maine reflects the company’s deep pride in American craftsmanship, significant investments in innovation and machinery and integration of lean manufacturing processes to enable a demand-driven and responsive MADE U.S. supply network.

“U.S. manufacturing has always been at the core of our company culture,” said Joe Preston, New Balance President & 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’s $65 million investment added a 120,000 sq. ft. single-story expansion to the existing 5-story factory building that was purchased by the company in 1981. The expansion allowed for the company’s regional associates to join together in a best-in-class manufacturing operation. An additional 20,000 sq. ft. of the existing building is also being renovated. New Balance Central Maine currently employs 400 associates producing the brand’s popular 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 the USA’ label here and around the world, a label New Balance keeps alive and well in the footwear industry,” said 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.”

Including NB Central Maine, New Balance owns five manufacturing facilities in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire (opening Fall 2025) where approximately 1,200 U.S. workers prepare, cut and mold materials and components of athletic shoes; and sew, press and manufacture those materials and components into the final product. New Balance currently employs approximately 600 associates across its NB Central Maine and NB Norway factories and retail locations in Kittery, Oxford and Skowhegan.

“Maine has a long tradition of manufacturing and producing high quality goods including footwear,” said 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 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.”

New Balance MADE footwear that is produced in the U.S. contains a domestic value of 70% or more and makes up a limited portion of New Balance’s U.S. sales.  New Balance is the only major athletic shoe manufacturer that has maintained factories in the United States. 

“We are extremely proud to be part of the Maine business community for more than 40 years,” said 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.

New Balance is proactively working to innovate and expand its domestic supplier network for its MADE US footwear while also driving new automation and robotics opportunities to enhance associate safety and ergonomics and increase productivity.

As part of the opening, New Balance announced a $75,000 gift to Main Street Skowhegan to support their River Park project as well as the donation of New Balance trail running and hiking footwear to their Outdoor Gear Lending Library.

“New Balance has always been strongly committed to our local Maine communities, said Nate Nixon, Regional Manufacturing Manager at New Balance. “We’re excited to be able to support Main Street Skowhegan’s River Park that will benefit area residents and our local economy.”

“New Balance’s generous gift is both an investment in our shared vision for Skowhegan and a testament to their leadership as a community partner,” said Kristina Cannon, President & CEO of Main Street Skowhegan. “Their donation of footwear to our Skowhegan Outdoors gear lending library further expands access to the outdoors, and together these contributions help position our region as a premier outdoor recreation hub that will benefit residents, visitors, and businesses for generations to come.”

Jim Davis of New Balance is a member of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.