Irving Forest Products in Ashland to expand sawmill operation to double capacity and add jobs

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 10, 2026

Irving Forest Products has announced that it is adding a second sawmill operation in Ashland in Aroostook County. The company says it plans to double production and hire at least 80 more employees. The company applied to the Finance Authority of Maine New Markets Capital Investment Program, which encourages community development entities to find investors willing to invest in low-income areas in exchange for tax credits. Five investors provided $42 million to Irving and received $16.5 million in tax credits in return. The size of the mill is effectively doubling, from 68,500 square feet to 136,500 square feet to accommodate a new, second sawline capable of processing longer logs. Once the second sawline is up and running, the mill will be able to accept an additional 5,000 truckloads per year.