Collins, King, Golden Celebrate Announcement of New LP Houlton Mill Production Line
Building on its recent $150 million investment, LP Houlton is investing an additional $400 million in a new SmartSide line that will create 100 jobs, increase output by more than 150 percent
Houlton, ME – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Jared Golden today celebrated Louisiana Pacific Building Solutions’ (LP) announcement that a new siding production line will be constructed at their Houlton facility. The $400 million investment will increase LP Houlton’s capacity by 340 million square feet of SmartSide siding a year and is expected to create approximately 100 jobs at the plant. This significant investment is in addition to the $150 million SmartSide facility LP Houlton announced earlier this summer.
“LP Houlton’s new siding production line is a huge investment in the future of Northern Maine and its people. The $400 million expansion will create an estimated 100 additional jobs at LP and increase opportunities across the forest products industry – benefiting loggers, haulers, and everyone else in between who relies on Maine forests,” said Senators Collins and King and Representative Golden. “For over a generation, LP Houlton workers have embodied The County’s work ethic and spirit as they’ve manufactured modern wood products used around the globe. The new line will build on this proud legacy of excellence, grow the region’s economy, and help LP reach emerging markets with their world-class products. We’re grateful for this vote of confidence in the skill and dedication of LP’s workers and look forward to seeing the positive effect it will have across Aroostook communities.”
Louisiana Pacific Building Solutions Houlton currently employs 160 people in Aroostook County. The facility recently made the transition to modern “SmartSide” durable house siding, and it is expected to produce 220 million square feet of siding by the end of the year – enough for 100,000 homes. Senator Collins attended the grand opening of the new $150 million siding manufacturing facility in August, and Senator King toured the facility shortly before it opened. The additional square footage created by this new production line will bring LP Houlton’s total SmartSide production capacity to more than 500 million square feet and add roughly 100 new jobs.
