Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 2 : Fall 2010 | Page 30

A Growing Commitment to Maine by Mary Keith Irving Woodlands has been working in Aroostook County for more than 60 years, and is focused on sustaining jobs in the State for a long time to come. Irving Woodlands employs 300 forest workers (employees and contractors) and another 220 people work at the Irving sawmill in Dixfield. 98 percent of Irving’s employees are residents of Maine. Last year, the company’s direct payroll was $18 million, with another $55 million paid to contractors and private wood suppliers. In total, Irving woodlands and sawmill operations spent $97 million in Maine last year. “We work hard to provide competitive earnings and the opportunity to significantly increase those earnings - pioneering the use of best-in-class technology and work practices,” said Peter Tabor, Regional Manager for Maine. “Over the last five years we have invested $1 million in training for our employees and contractors to increase both their skills and the money they receive for their 28 Growing Commitment FALL & WINTER 09 efforts. These training investments will continue. And while we own about 10% of the forested land base in Maine, we are responsible for 90% of the investment in planting new trees in Maine since 2003. In just the last five years we have planted more than 14 million trees in the state – our commitment to a strong forest future. We also have contributed over $1 million to forest research at the University of Maine to help keep Maine’s forest lands healthy, productive and sustainable.” Irving’s forest land base up in the County is providing a sustainable wood supply to 20 Maine mills. The trees that company plants also helps absorb greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Trees are nature’s air filters and a growing tree can absorb up to one ton of carbon dioxide in its growing cycle. Irving Woodlands, LLC has been a member in the Cooperative Forest Research Unit (CFRU) at the University of Maine in Orono f o r