ASHLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a strong advocate for the American manufacturing sector, joined with state officials and local business leaders in Ashland as Ecoshel, a manufacturer of premium exterior shingles; ReEnergy, a biomass electricity production facility; and Irving Woodlands Sawmill, a wood supply company, launched a new era of job creation and economic innovation in Aroostook County. All together, the new facilities are expected to directly support approximately 200 well-paying jobs in the region.

“Maine had a tough day yesterday with the announcement of the closure of the mill in Bucksport,” Senator King said. “But today has been a great day in Aroostook County with the opening of three new facilities and the addition of well-over a hundred jobs with more to come. There’s a lot of optimism, a beautiful fall day with a blue sky, and the people of Aroostook County are feeling great. We have these tough times sometimes, and I really feel for the people in Bucksport, but on the other hand, there’s good news in Aroostook County today.”

Senator King joined Ecoshel leaders as they announced the anticipated addition of more than 50 new jobs by the end of this year to help meet the growing needs of its expanding operations. The facility officially opened last May following a year of construction that was supported by the collaborative efforts of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Technology Institute, and the Town of Ashland, as well as a unique partnership with the University of Maine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center that allowed students to develop a novel assembly line for the facility.

Senator King also joined officials from ReEnergy as they flipped the switch to officially restart operations at its Ashland facility. The facility, which had been inactive since 2011, is expected to be fully operational by December and will have the capability to generate up to 284,000 MWh of electricity from responsibly harvested green forest residue biomass – enough to supply nearly 37,000 homes and support 25 jobs while also contributing to roughly another 150 throughout the area.

Earlier in the morning, Senator King had also toured Moosewood Millworks, a manufacturer of high-quality hardwood flooring committed to sustainable forestry practices, and later in the afternoon he attended the grand-opening of Irving Woodlands Sawmill in Nashville Plantation. The recently rebuilt and energy efficient mill is expected to create and sustain approximately 65 jobs within the region. King also toured Northeast Pellets and Fraser Papers while in the area.

Senator King is a champion of American manufacturing, advocating for greater investment in the industry and pressing for bipartisan legislation – the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 – to help jumpstart the same type of innovation that has contributed to the success of the companies in the Ashland area. The bill would establish a network of industry-led manufacturing institutes to help bridge the gap between research and development and improve access to cutting-edge equipment and capabilities.

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