Congressional Delegation Updates In New Limerick, Louisiana-Pacific Houlton announced a $400 million capital investment to its plant by adding a second SmartSide line, doubling the production capacity and adding more than 100 jobs to the The forest products industry community. This announcement comes just two months after LP unveiled a $150 million renovation to the is a vital part of our state’s economy and identity, particularly plant to begin production of the SmartSide line of in rural communities. Two recent products. Coming from a six-generation forest-products announcements of significant family, I am a strong supporter of this crucial industry. investments totaling more than In 2016, I called on the U.S. Department of $800 million at Sappi’s Somerset Commerce to establish the Economic Development Sen. Susan Collins Mill in Skowhegan and at Assessment Team (EDAT) to create strategies for job Louisiana-Pacific Houlton’s plant growth and economic development in Maine’s rural in New Limerick will strengthen local economies and communities. The creation of the EDAT and subsequent support Maine’s dedicated and skilled loggers, haulers, federal funding established the FOR/Maine Initiative, an and factory workers. industry-led effort to grow Maine’s forest economy. As In Skowhegan, Sappi will invest $418 million to the industry embraces new opportunities, Sappi and LP convert Paper Machine No. 2 to diversify its specialty are leading the way in making the necessary investments product line and double its production capacity. The to evolve with the market and secure long-term success. project is expected to be completed in early 2025. These investments by Sappi and LP recognize Currently, the Somerset Mill supports approximately 800 that from the depths of our woods to the factory jobs in Skowhegan and 1,300 jobs in Maine. floor, the men and women of Maine’s forest products Construction of the expansion is expected to support industry get the job done. 1,000 contractor jobs across Maine. Encouraging Investments to Grow Maine’s Forest Products Industry
Investing in the Future of Maine's Forest Economy I'm a perpetual optimist. I think that it's almost always easier to solve a problem if you can look at the opportunities you have, rather than just focusing on the downsides. It's no secret that Maine's forest products industry has faced some real Sen. Angus King challenges over the last few years, but with some significant investments that have been announced this fall, I think we can be optimistic about the future of Maine's forest economy and rural communities. At the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Sappi North America just announced a $418 million investment this month to convert Paper Machine No. 2 to a new specialty board line and double production capacity. Construction of the expansion is expected to create 1,000 contractor jobs and will help Sappi continue to support their workers and the Skowhegan community. A bit further north, LP Houlton announced they're making a $400 million investment to increase the facility’s capacity by 340 million square feet of new siding a year. It's a huge expansion that is expected to create approximately new 100 jobs and
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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine
enough siding for 100,000 homes a year. This is in addition to the $150 million new facility I visited at LP Houlton earlier this summer. A key similarity between the investments at LP and Sappi: they're both for new lines of forest products that weren't produced or sold even just a few years ago. These new products and opportunities like crosslaminated timber will mean new markets, new jobs, and stronger communities across rural Maine. Another great example of our industry’s innovative spirit is from the University of Maine. Last month, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center unveiled the first 3Dprinted home made entirely from biobased Maine wood products. This incredible achievement is a first step towards mass producing affordable housing which will create new jobs and uses for Maine’s forest products. Now that’s a win-win. This doesn't mean that the road ahead for our forest economy is an easy one; but with these investments, the success of initiatives like the Forest Opportunity Roadmap, and the unbeatable work ethic of people like you across the industry, I'm confident that the future remains bright. Together, we’re going to continue creating new opportunities and solidifying the foundation of our heritage industries for generations to come.
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