Major Changes Coming to New Balance’s Operations in Central Maine

Not only is New Balance one of the most recognizable footwear brands in the country, the company is also one of the largest employers in Central Maine.

Now, big changes could be coming to the company's Central Maine operations.

New Balance in Skowhegan, Maine

In December of 2022, it was announced that the New Balance location on Walnut Street in Skowhegan was going to be getting a major update.

The expansion, which was estimated to cost about $65 million, would add an additional 20,000 square feet to the facility.  Additionally, it would require hundreds more employees to operate.  It was estimated that the number of employees at the Skowhegan factory would increase from 200 to about 450.

In 2022, it was estimated that the expansion would be completed by the end of 2024.

New Balance in Norridgewock, Maine

As the expansion of the Skowhegan factory nears completion, the company has announced a significant change to its Central Maine operations.

According to the KJ, the company plans to close down its Norridgewock facility and move all operations into the Skowhegan facility.

All of the staff from the Norridgewock facility will be moved to the Skowhegan facility.  The article explains that, currently, there are 230 workers at the Norridgewock plant and 260 in Skowhegan.  That makes for a total of just under 500 employees.

The transition process is expected to start this fall.

What is New Balance?

Today, we consider New Balance to be a sneaker / athletic footwear company, but this was not always the case.  According to Wikipedia, the company was started by Irish immigrant William J. Riley in Boston in 1906.  Originally, the company, which was known as the New Balance Arch Support Company, made shoe accessories.  Specifically, the company made arch support inserts for shoes.

By the 1930s, New Balance had transitioned from producing shoe accessories to specializing in athletic footwear, which gained popularity among professional athletes.

The really big break for the company, though, came in the 1950s.  That was when they introduced the "Trackster" and started marketing it to colleges (like the nearby MIT) and to the YMCA.

These days, the company makes running shoes, skateboarding shoes, clothing, and more.

The company, which operates several facilities throughout New England, has been known for the charitable work they do in those communities.  In June of 2023, the company donated $250,000 to help with the construction of a new learning center.