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