--- title: "Ashland Sawmill expansion to double lumber production" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-16T15:25:16.371Z" source_reported: "2026-09-16T14:41:43.000Z" updated: "2026-09-16T15:25:16.371Z" trust_score: 74 critic_score: 72 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-16T16:15:33.416952+00:00" --- # Ashland Sawmill expansion to double lumber production *Modernization project supported by $112.9 million in tax credits aims to create 220 jobs.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 74 of 100, higher is better. Named officials and detailed figures give the report solid sourcing. - Craft 72 of 100, higher is better. Includes multiple quotes and specific data, but largely reproduces a press release. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Headline and text are straightforward without sensational language. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Irving Forest Products is expanding its Ashland Sawmill in Maine. - The modernization project will double annual lumber production capacity from 130 million to 250 million board feet. - The expansion is supported by $112.9 million in combined federal and state New Markets Tax Credit allocations. - The project is expected to create and retain the equivalent of 220 permanent, full-time jobs. Irving Forest Products, a subsidiary of J.D. Irving, Limited, is undertaking a modernization project at its Ashland Sawmill in Nashville Plantation, Maine. The expansion is intended to increase production capacity and bolster the economic stability of the Aroostook community. Upon completion, the project will double the facility's annual lumber production capacity, increasing it from 130 million to 250 million board feet. This expansion is projected to create and retain the equivalent of 220 permanent, full-time jobs, including those for upstream workers such as foresters and loggers. All positions will offer full benefits and pay at or above a living wage for Aroostook County. The project is being supported by the Federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program and the Maine New Markets Capital Investment Program. Together, these programs provide a combined total of $112.9 million in tax credit allocations. This funding is intended to help bridge a gap by stimulating private investment. The state's portion of the funding was previously announced by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) in June. The tax credit allocations have been distributed to seven Community Development Entities (CDEs), which will invest in the project, generating approximately $44 million in federal and state tax credits. These programs are designed to encourage private investment in low-income communities. Jerome Pelletier of Irving Forest Products expressed appreciation for the support from the CDFI Fund, FAME, and the CDEs, and thanked Senator Susan Collins for her support of Maine's forest products sector. Jim Irving, CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited, stated the expansion is an important investment in the future of Maine's forest products industry and its dependent communities, also acknowledging Senator Collins' support for economic growth and rail service in Maine. Officials from TD Community Development Corporation and CEI Capital Management highlighted how New Markets Tax Credits can bring private investment to rural areas and support critical businesses, noting the sawmill's importance to Aroostook County's economy. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific figures for the federal and state tax credit allocations, only that the project is supported by them. The right-rated report included these figures. No centre-rated outlet ran this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 78% (7) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 22% (2) 0 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-16T16:15:33.416952+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-16T17:00:21.333Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the core details of the Ashland Sawmill expansion. They highlighted the doubling of lumber production capacity from 130 million to 250 million board feet. The creation and retention of 220 permanent, full-time jobs, including benefits and living wages, were also prominent. The reports noted the $112.9 million in combined federal and state New Markets Tax Credit allocations supporting the project. The role of the New Markets Tax Credit program in stimulating private investment in low-income communities and supporting businesses critical to local economies was also mentioned. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - The right-rated report from the Financial Post led with the announcement of the major expansion of the Ashland Sawmill. It detailed that the modernization project will double annual production capacity and strengthen the regional economy. The report specified the project will increase capacity from 130 million to 250 million board feet and create or retain 220 permanent, full-time jobs with full benefits and above-living wages. It also stated the project is supported by $112.9 million in combined federal and state New Markets Tax Credit allocations, noting the role of these credits in stimulating private investment. The report included quotes from Irving Forest Products and J.D. Irving, Limited executives, as well as from TD Community Development Corporation and CEI Capital Management. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 4 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Enid News & Eagle](https://enidnews.com/region/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_18f69ae8-e62d-5fc5-af92-b62e87a3e3e6.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [The Manila Times](https://manilatimes.net/2026/09/16/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/2426716) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/globe-newswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_d628bb63-19d8-58b4-a3f6-08fa8e4adb4b.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [The Record](https://therecord.com/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_8fca49cf-da35-5b4a-82d5-d357ca0d4d4d.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_9de13090-6559-54b8-ad7f-0312fa0e74cb.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [WellandTribune.ca](https://wellandtribune.ca/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_43102a64-196d-50e4-b415-13b2ac14eb05.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [Cambridge Times](https://cambridgetimes.ca/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_7e39bf16-c027-5dcb-831f-066caeae41c1.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced - [Brampton Guardian](https://bramptonguardian.com/globenewswire/major-expansion-of-ashland-sawmill-announced/article_5026cc00-2e0f-5eb0-9842-1acaa1e2a8f2.html) — Major expansion of Ashland Sawmill announced ## Questions **What is the Ashland Sawmill modernization project?** The Ashland Sawmill modernization project is an expansion undertaken by Irving Forest Products in Maine. It aims to double the facility's annual lumber production capacity and is expected to create or retain 220 jobs. The project is supported by significant tax credit allocations. **How much will the expansion increase lumber production?** The modernization project will double the Ashland Sawmill's annual lumber production capacity. It will increase from the current 130 million board feet to 250 million board feet per year once the expansion is complete. **What funding is supporting the sawmill expansion?** The project is supported by $112.9 million in combined federal and state New Markets Tax Credit allocations. These tax credits are designed to stimulate private investment in low-income communities and help bridge funding gaps for important projects. **How many jobs will the expansion create?** The expansion is expected to create and retain the equivalent of 220 permanent, full-time jobs. These positions will include mill workers as well as upstream workers like foresters and loggers, and all will offer full benefits and pay at or above a living wage. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ashland Sawmill expansion to double lumber production", https://mediabias.news/business/ashland-sawmill-expansion-to-double-lumber-production