As the leading manufacturer of wood rolling pins in the USA, we were pleased to receive a sizable grant from Maine’s Forests Recovery Initiative. The FRI funding will be put toward a multi-phase automation project that improves our processes in the production of rolling pins.
“These funds will allow the company to improve both our processes and productivity in a challenging market,” said Chris Chandler, president. “These innovations will enable the company to maintain its position as one of the United States’ premier manufacturers of rolling pins.”
“The efficiencies we gain from the improvements in the production of rolling pins will benefit our hard working team members by reducing repetitive tasks and increasing output. We are grateful to all those at the Advanced Manufacturing Center, Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and MTI for their help keeping this Maine company competitive in a difficult Covid economy.”
The grants, funded as part of Governor Janet Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, have been awarded to a total of 224 companies, the vast majority of which are in rural parts of the state. Some 83% of grant recipients employ 10 or fewer people, and 80% are in Aroostook, Penobscot, Somerset, Oxford or Piscataquis counties. The average grant is around $27,000.
Mills announced the $20 million Forest Recovery Initiative grant program through her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan last November. The initiative provides financial relief to forest-related businesses that have been adversely affected by COVID-19 to help them keep operations running. The program was administered by Maine Technology Institute.
“Our forest products industry is a cornerstone of our economy and the lifeblood of rural communities across Maine, employing tens of thousands of hardworking folks who make their living from our forests, just like generations before them,” said Mills. “I want to make sure that our forest products industry, and the jobs it provides, remains strong for generations to come. These grants are a direct investment in that goal, in our forest products sector, and in rural Maine, helping sustain these vital businesses and jobs.”