Irving Sawmills Division Invests to Open Ashland Sawmill – Creating 60 Jobs

ASHLAND, MAINE:   J.D. Irving, Limited Sawmills Division announced today that it will invest $30 million in a new state-of-the-art Softwood sawmill at Ashland (Nashville Plantation), Maine. During the construction phase, the new facility will employ up to 50 people at peak.  Once the mill is operating, 60 permanent jobs will be created.

Biomass boilers, dry kilns, and a planer mill will also be part of the investment. Construction will begin shortly, pending favorable permitting; and the new mill is expected to open in late Spring of 2014. 

The softwood lumber produced at this new facility will provide customers their choice of products that are environmentally certified under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C081657) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) programs.  The majority of the lumber produced will be sold to major retail lumber yards located throughout the US Eastern Seaboard.

The round wood log supply for the new sawmill will be procured from the company's Maine freehold woodlands as well as other woodlot and timberland owners in the state.

The company has reached an agreement with the United Steel Workers Union (USW) to certify the site. 

"We are committed to growing jobs and opportunities in Maine.  This new mill at Ashland will deliver new jobs and the best technology for the workers, and will be sustained by a wood supply from Maine producers.  We look forward to serving valued customers through the U.S. northeast with quality, certified lumber,” said Gaston Poitras, Vice President of Sawmills.

“This is the kind of news we like to see in the State of Maine: a good company expanding and creating quality jobs for Maine people,” said Governor Paul R. LePage.  “Maine is open for business and we will continue our efforts to make Maine as competitive as possible for private investment and job growth.”