Irving celebrates opening of Ashland Sawmill
NASHVILLE PLANTATION, Maine — Irving Forest Products marked the official opening of the new state-of-the-art Ashland Sawmill in Nashville Plantation on Thursday, hosting an open house with over 200 in attendance, including officials from both sides of the border, municipal leaders and employees.
During the construction phase, over 84 Maine businesses provided in excess of $17 million in goods and services to the project, employing over 50 people on site during peak activity.
The $30 million sawmill started operating in June and today employs 60 people, producing over 100 million board feet of quality, environmentally certified softwood lumber per year. Ashland Sawmill is one of the most modern sawmills in North America and operates the fastest trim line on the continent. It is located at the former site of North America’s largest sawmill, Pinkham Lumber.
The softwood lumber produced at the new facility will provide customers their choice of products that are environmentally certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) programs. The majority of the lumber produced will be sold to major retail lumber yards located throughout the U.S.’s Eastern Seaboard.
Gaston Poitras, vice president of sawmills for Irving, served as emcee.
“This is an exciting day, as we celebrate the good news for 60 new mill employees and suppliers we’re proud to work with,” said Poitras, who then introduced Jim Irving, co-CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited.
Irving — who attended the event with his son, Alex, his brother, Robert, and his father, J.K. Irving (founder of the company) — noted that northern Maine and the forestry industry has been a special part of his family’s history for almost seven decades.
“We’re committed to family and the state,” said Irving.
“We have proudly been part of Aroostook County for over 65 years. Today is a great day for our operations in Maine as we welcome 60 new employees to the team. They are working in one of the most modern mills in North America, using the best technology. We appreciate the support of the 84 Maine contractors who worked with us on the project. We are continuing to hire in the state for our forestry operations, requiring over 125 people between now and 2016 and value the partnerships we have with the University of Maine System and local community colleges that are providing the skilled workforce of the future,” said Irving.
Irving noted that his company has planted over 56 million trees and, thanks to the support of UMS and state officials, “Irving now serves as a test case for outcome-based forestry” in Maine.
“It takes great cooperation by the state and environmental entities,” said Irving, noting “this will allow us to be more efficient and competitive.”
Gov. Paul LePage attended the festivities, praising the business for bringing jobs to The County.
“Congratulations to Irving on the opening of the new sawmill,” said LePage. “I thank them for making this investment and for once again choosing Maine as a place to do business. My administration is committed to making Maine as competitive as possible for this type of new private investment leading to good-paying careers for Maine people.”
Also in attendance was Sen. Angus King, who praised Irving’s endeavor, using the “four P’s.”
“The first is a plan and a vision of a great forest products company and good forestry. Partnership — partnering with the state, the local community and local contractors. The third is perseverance — it always takes a lot of effort and push to get through a lot of obstacles. The fourth makes them all come together, and that’s passion — you have to have a passion for what you do — to see things that other people don’t see. The Irving family has that passion and it’s one of the great success stories of North America,” said King.
King said the Irving family has “always been tough, fair and honest.”
“They’ve been that way not only to themselves but to the spirit of a community,” said King.
Though unable to attend the open house, other state representatives praised the opening of the Ashland Sawmill via press releases.
“The opening of the Ashland Sawmill is great news for its talented employees and the county’s economy,” said Sen. Susan Collins. “The construction of this mill has already created many good-paying jobs, and its operation will further stimulate economic growth and support the state’s forest products industry.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the cutting-edge technology that will be employed in the new sawmill — it’s a great example of how Maine can be a leader in innovation in an industry where we already have such a long and proud history,” said Congressman Mike Michaud. “The mill — and the strengthening of rail in the region — will create good jobs that will help our communities to grow. I look forward to working with Irving and community officials in a partnership that I know will strengthen the region.”
Irving — whose company purchased the rail line in northern Maine and now operates as Maine Northern Railway — will use rail to move much of the lumber produced at the mill.
“I’m optimistic about our future. We’re finding better ways (to do things) every day,” said Irving.
Poitras closed by saying though the company/family has been through some tough times, “Now we have a mill second to none.”
The Irvings then joined LePage and King to press a button for a horn signaling the opening of the Ashland Sawmill.
