Boston-based New Balance is best known for its shoes, but it should also be known for its commitment to domestic manufacturing. With two facilities in Maine, two in Massachusetts, and one in New Hampshire, New Balance claims to be “the only major athletic shoe manufacturer that has consistently maintained factories in the United States.” The company’s MADE in USA footwear, complete with a domestic value of 70% or more and a ‘Made in USA’ mark, has been “designed without compromise and constructed with authentic American craftsmanship for over 75 years,” New Balance wrote. This initiative, therefore, also involves a deeper commitment to expanding relationships with U.S. suppliers. In 2024, of the $3.1 billion that New Balance contributed to the American economy, $479 million of that was the result of its MADE operations.
“Here in Maine, shoemaking is more than just a job – it is part of our heritage. Thanks to the dedicated New Balance team, it is also part of our future,” added U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Shoemaking’s importance for Maine’s economy is particularly evident given how Maine Sens. Collins and King advocated for a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that required the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to give American-made athletic shoes to initial-entry service members. In 2018, the DOD awarded New Balance one of three resulting contracts.
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