Maine has an estimated 17.52 million acres of forest land covering 89 percent of the land area and continues to have the highest percentage of forest cover of any state.  An estimated 446,336 acres of forest land undergo active management each year in Maine. Land ownership is relatively constant in Maine with an estimated 91.96 percent of the land base privately owned, 6.73 percent owned by state and local governments, and 1.31 percent federally owned.

With available, locally sourced timber, Loring Commerce Centre is well positioned to host CLT and other mass timber manufacturing facilities. Mass timber is engineered wood that rivals the load-bearing capacity of concrete and steel. Made by gluing together layers of lumber in a way that creates stronger structural integrity than regular timber, CLT and other mass timber products are sustainable building materials that are eco-friendly, well-suited to prefabrication, and provide a variety of potential design applications.

FOREST PRODUCTS OPPORTUNITIES:
  • Maine has been identified as having the resources needed for producing Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) engineered wood products well suited for tall buildings and large support structures
  • CLT and mass timber production requires large manufacturing space for kilns and indoor warehousing capacities that could be accommodated by LDA’s assets
  • Maine Codes & Standards voted in 1/21 to allow mass timber construction (CLT) for buildings up to 18 stories – opening new opportunities
  • Five spruce, pine, fir (SPF-S) mills in Maine could support CLT operations with two located in Aroostook County (Daaquam Lumber and Irving-Ashland)
  • Maine is estimated to be able to support up to five more mills with a 2.8 mil green ton capacity over current sawmill demand (pre-Covid estimates)
  • Loring has a number of large-scale facilities on the campus that would be ideal space for storage of wood and paper products (approximately 540,000 sf. currently for lease)
  • Forest products and food/agriculture processors indicated increased demand for dry storage space for paper, packaging & wood products (Maine and Canadian)
  • Maine recognized as industry leader – UMaine FBRI and Tech Center
SITE ASSETS
  • On-site water treatment plant, water distribution system, and wastewater collection system
  • On-site broadband
  • On-site renewable energy: community solar farm
  • Loring Commerce Centre has available buildings suitable for mass timber production and available greenfield to accommodate new construction.
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
BUSINESS SUPPORTS
  • Pine Tree Development Zone (PTZ)- Tier 1 location
  • Business Equipment Tax Exemption (BETE)
  • Opportunity Zone (OZ)
  • Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
  • New Market Tax Credit (NMTC)
  • Streamlined Permitting and Flexible Zoning
LABOR AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

Northern Maine has a motivated and affordable workforce, as well as a number of applied workforce training programs to support business growth. The State of Maine offers numerous business assistance programs to help support business growth.

Specialized training

Local community colleges and universities will help build a workforce for your business, customized to your business needs.

Pre-hire training

Maine’s community colleges offer short-term FREE training programs for workforce development.

Workforce funding

The Maine Workforce Development Compact offers member businesses training funds, scholarships, and personalized advising.

Apprenticeships

The Maine Apprenticeship Program has established “earn while you learn” apprenticeship work models customized to the specific needs of employers.

With a company that is a good fit for the Loring Commerce Centre, we have the capacity to build a workforce.
- Tim Crowley, President,
Northern Maine Community College

Please contact us to learn more about our specialized assets for next generation aviation and aerospace businesses.

Carl W. Flora, President & CEO
Loring Development Authority of Maine
Ph: 207-328-7005
Email: [email protected]

Steve Levesque
Business Development Advisor
Ph: 207-841-9955
Email: [email protected]