Irving Finalizes Financing for $112.9M Ashland Sawmill Expansion — 220 Jobs on the Line in Aroostook County

Big news for job seekers in northern Maine: Irving Forest Products has finalized roughly $44 million in New Markets Tax Credit financing to fund a $112.9 million modernization of its sawmill in Ashland (Nashville Plantation), Aroostook County. The project will nearly double the mill's output — from about 130 million to 250 million board feet of lumber per year — and support 220 permanent, full-time jobs.

What's Actually Happening

The expansion itself isn't brand new — Irving and state officials first announced the project back in June, when Governor Mills and the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) unveiled the plan to expand the mill from 68,500 to 136,500 square feet and add a second sawline capable of handling longer logs. What's new as of this month is that Irving has closed the financing: seven Community Development Entities (including TD Community Development Corp, Mascoma Community Development, and CEI Capital Management) have committed the tax-credit capital that makes the buildout possible. In other words, the project has cleared its biggest financial hurdle and is moving forward.

The Jobs Picture

Here's what we know:

  • Headcount: The mill's current workforce of around 140 is expected to grow to about 220 — roughly 80 new positions on top of the existing team.
  • Pay: Irving says all positions come with full benefits and pay at or above a living wage for Aroostook County.
  • Timeline: Construction is expected to run from summer 2026 through fall 2027, so hiring will likely ramp up in phases rather than all at once.
  • Types of roles: Sawmill jobs like this typically span production, maintenance/millwright, electrical, supervisory, and logistics/trucking positions — plus upstream work for loggers and truckers who supply the mill (the release specifically notes the project supports regional forestry jobs, not just mill-floor roles).

Worth noting: Irving already has some openings posted for its Ashland/Nashville Plantation operation, including Industrial Electrician, Production Supervisor, and Millwright roles. It's not confirmed whether these specific postings are tied to the expansion or represent normal turnover, but they're a good sign the site is actively hiring — and a preview of the kinds of skilled trades roles this project will likely need more of as construction progresses.

Why It Matters for Aroostook County

Irving is already one of the largest employers in the Maine forest products industry, operating 10 sawmills statewide and controlling roughly 1.3 million acres of Maine timberland. A near-doubling of capacity at one site is a meaningful vote of confidence in the region's workforce and supply chain — and a rare example of a major manufacturing employer growing headcount in a rural Maine county at a time when other institutions (see: UMaine's recent budget-driven layoffs) are cutting back.

For job seekers in The County, this is a multi-year hiring window worth watching — not just for mill jobs, but for the truckers, loggers, and tradespeople who support the operation.

What to Do Next

If you're looking for work in the Aroostook County forest products industry, now's a good time to get your resume in front of employers like Irving before hiring ramps up further. Browse current openings — or set up a free job alert — at jobsinmaine.com to be notified as new Aroostook County postings go live.

Are you an Irving supplier, contractor, or a fellow Aroostook County employer looking to hire? List your openings on jobsinmaine.com to reach job seekers across the region.

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