Second Grant Supports New Products and New Technology

One of only 19 Maine companies selected, Wells Wood Turning & Finishing is pleased to announce a sizeable award from the final round of the Maine Forest Recovery Initiative, which awarded grants totaling $14 million in December.

Wells Wood Turning was awarded $484,165 for its application titled, “Expand WWTF’s Reach with New Products and New Technology.”

“We are keen to build on our success in the promotional products category and items like the White House Easter Egg Roll by developing and manufacturing a new category of Maine-made promotional products, where we see unique and significant market opportunity,” said Simon Varney, vice president. “At the same time, the grant enables us to introduce technology that automates certain manufacturing processes and increases our output for customers.”

The award is the company’s second from the same program. As the leading manufacturer of wood rolling pins in the USA, we were pleased to receive a smaller grant from the Phase 1 FRI. That funding will be put toward a multi-phase automation project that improves our processes in the production of rolling pins.

The $20 million Forest Recovery Initiative, announced by Governor Janet Mills in November 2021, aims to support Maine’s forest products industry and the people it employs, create and sustain jobs in rural Maine, and strengthen the state’s economy. In March, the first round of awards provided financial relief to 219 forest products industry businesses that experienced negative impacts from the pandemic to help them sustain the viability of their business. The program was administered by Maine Technology Institute.

For a full list of grant recipients, click here.