After a series of permitting delays, construction has officially begun on the $55 million Taste of Maine Potato Chip Co. factory, located at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. The plant is scheduled to begin production in spring 2026, with full operational capacity targeted for June of the same year.
The 80,000-square-foot facility, developed by Bruce Sargent and Jim Pelkey of Falcon Transportation in Presque Isle, is expected to create up to 100 jobs and consume potatoes grown on more than 1,500 acres in Aroostook County. The new factory represents a significant investment in Maine’s potato industry and marks a turning point for efforts to revitalize the region’s industrial infrastructure.
“Taste of Maine progress has begun,” said Jonathan Judkins, president and CEO of the Loring Development Authority, during a recent board meeting. He confirmed that ground preparation commenced on March 31, following the long-awaited approval of a wastewater treatment permit.
Initial plans to begin construction in mid-2024 were postponed after developers learned that the facility would require a dedicated digester to treat wastewater—necessary to avoid overloading the town’s water and sewer system. That issue has since been resolved, enabling construction to proceed under the direction of Mapleton-based Buck Construction. Industry expertise is also being provided by a potato chip plant developer from Idaho, Sargent confirmed.
The plant site, located at 250 Northcutt Road just inside the West Gate of the Loring Commerce Centre, previously housed the former Damon Elementary School. Limestone town officials granted the company a 30-year tax incentive agreement in May 2024 to support the project’s long-term viability.
The Taste of Maine facility is one of several initiatives aimed at transforming the 3,800-acre former air base into a hub for industry and innovation. Green 4 Maine, a Portland-based developer, is working in parallel to bring a range of new businesses to the site. The company has signed agreements with an artificial intelligence firm and a rocket manufacturer, and is collaborating with DG Fuels on a $4 billion aviation fuel plant proposal.
As U.S. trade policy continues to evolve, Green 4 Maine has reportedly fielded inquiries from Canadian firms seeking to expand operations stateside. Co-founder Thomas Manning noted that current interest is strong, though details of pending agreements have yet to be made public.
Meanwhile, the Loring Development Authority continues to address broader infrastructure issues critical to future investment. Six derelict housing units on the Manser Drive complex are in the process of being demolished, with plans now shifting toward building new residences atop existing foundations to mitigate the region’s affordable housing shortage.
Judkins also confirmed ongoing work with the Maine Public Utilities Commission to resolve concerns over recent increases in water and sewer rates. Temporary relief measures have been introduced for businesses operating on authority property, and a full review of five years’ billing data is underway.
The site will also host several public military training events in the coming months. The New Hampshire Air Guard will conduct the first phase of a long-term exercise in early May, followed by a multi-agency tactical alert training coordinated by the Maine Air National Guard in June.
With the Taste of Maine project now in motion and complementary developments gaining traction, stakeholders hope the former air base can evolve into a thriving commercial ecosystem anchored in agriculture, energy, and technology.
