Under the terms of the contact, the Defense Logistics Agency could purchase up to 540,00 pairs of New Balance’s 0430 athletic shoe made in Maine.
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A year after New Balance Inc. expanded its footwear factory in Skowhegan, the Boston-based manufacturer has landed a three-year contract to make athletic shoes for the U.S. military at the facility.
Under the terms of the contract, the Defense Logistics Agency will purchase a minimum of 22,000 pairs a year of the Made in USA 0430 athletic shoe for all four branches of the armed services starting in 2027.
“New Balance is proud to have been awarded this contract to provide our U.S. service members with our specialized Made in USA 0430 athletic footwear for basic training,” said Kevin McCoy, a vice president at New Balance.
“This opportunity reflects our long-standing commitment to American manufacturing and producing high-quality, performance footwear crafted by our New England makers,” he added.
The 0430 name (pronounced "zero-four-thirty") name is a nod to the early morning wake-up calls that military recruits experience during basic training.
John Lewis, executive director of Manufacturers Association of Maine, touted the contract as a “powerful vote of confidence” in Maine workers and their ability to produce high-quality products for one of the world’s most demanding customers: the U.S. military.
“It is also a reminder that there are many ways to serve our country," he told Mainebiz. "The skilled men and women making these shoes may not be on the front lines, but their work directly supports those who are. This contract shows that Maine manufacturing can compete, deliver and play an important role in strengthening our national security and domestic supply chains.”
