Irving Forest Products Secures Support for Major Maine Sawmill Expansion

Rubber and Wood  |  2026-06-10 06:31:14   |   By

Upon completion, the expansioin project will nearly double the sawmill’s annual lumber production capacity from 130 million board feet to 250 million board feet.

Summary
  • Major Sawmill Expansion Planned: Irving Forest Products will nearly double annual lumber production at its Ashland, Maine sawmill from 130 million to 250 million board feet.
  • FAME Financing Approved: The project received support through New Markets Tax Credit financing approved by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
  • Economic and Employment Boost: The expansion is expected to create approximately 80 new jobs, increasing the facility's workforce from 140 to around 220 full-time positions.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Irving Forest Products is set to significantly expand and modernize its Ashland sawmill in Maine. The proposed investment is expected to transform the facility into one of the region’s leading dimensional lumber producers while strengthening Maine’s forest products sector.

This follows approval of state-backed financing support from the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). FAME’s board of directors, at its end-of-April meeting, approved New Markets Tax Credit financing to assist the company’s multimillion-dollar expansion project. The tax credit program is aimed at encouraging private investment in economically significant projects.

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Upon completion, the expansion project will nearly double the sawmill’s annual lumber production capacity from 130 million board feet to 250 million board feet.

The expansion is also expected to contribute significantly to the local economy, in addition to creating additional job opportunities. Currently, the Ashland facility supports the equivalent of 140 full-time jobs. Following the expansion, employment is projected to rise to approximately 220 full-time positions, creating around 80 additional jobs in the region.

Jerome Pelletier of Irving Forest Products appreciated FAME’s support for the project. Furthermore, he noted that the investment underscores the company’s long-term commitment to the Aroostook region.