ALBANY, N.Y.—The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) announced today that members from across the
country are opening their doors to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Made in America Initiative.
Through facility tours, briefings, and a dedicated breakfast session, ABMA members will highlight the strength of
American manufacturing and the innovative steps being taken to compete globally.
“Across the ABMA, we represent American manufacturers who are innovating and competing with global
competitors every single day. Our members don’t shy away from competition, they embrace it. The SBA’s Made in
America Initiative will give them the boost to do what they already do best, even better: manufacture world-class
products right here at home,” said Rod Wiles, Chair of the ABMA.
How the SBA’s Made in America Initiative Supports Manufacturers
The Initiative will provide practical tools for manufacturers, including support from the Office of Manufacturing &
Trade through SBA field offices, easier access to 504 fixed-asset financing for real estate, construction, and
equipment, an expanded 7(a) Working Capital Pilot for inventory and export needs, and partnerships with
agencies, trade schools, and private stakeholders to develop a skilled manufacturing workforce.
“SBA Administrator Loeffler has made a commitment to strengthening our American manufacturers. We are
excited to discuss ideas, share successes, and find new and innovative solutions to work in unison to move
American manufacturing forward toward prosperity,” said SBA Associate Administrator Lisa Shimkat, who leads
the federal agency’s Office of Field Operations and the Office of Manufacturing & Trade.
“At ABMA, our work isn’t just about advancing policies that help our industry grow, it’s also about building
partnerships that elevate our members. The SBA’s Made in America Initiative gives us a chance to deliver real
value, opening new opportunities for family-owned businesses to thrive, innovate, and strengthen American
manufacturing,” said Francis Palasieski, Director of Government Affairs, ABMA. During these visits, SBA officials
will see firsthand how American manufacturers are driving innovation and supporting local economies:
• WindsorONE (Calif., Va., Pa.)—A leading manufacturer of American-made wood products, is proud to
announce the launch of a dedicated Research & Development division to support its three U.S.-based
manufacturing facilities. This strategic expansion accentuates WindsorONE’s commitment to advancing
domestic innovation, wood science education, and sustainable product development.
• Robbins Lumber (Maine)—A five-generation, family-owned mill working with the University of Maine to
bring a new long-length pine product to market. The innovation joins shorter boards into longer lengths with
fewer joints, offering a competitive U.S. alternative to European imports.
• Hancock Lumber (Maine)—Hosting tours of its tiny home manufacturing operation and Pine Mills,
showcasing a safety-first, people-centered culture that drives efficiency, quality, and community impact.
• LaValley’s Building Supply (N.H.) —Demonstrating component manufacturing and modular capabilities,
including trusses, wall panels, floor joists, and rafters, meeting America’s housing needs with U.S.-made
products.
• Builders’ General (N.J.)—Hosting a visit to its millwork facility, where the company manufactures custom
doors and trim; family-owned since 1931 and now operating seven locations across Central New Jersey.
• Bestway Lumber (N.Y.)—Welcoming SBA to its New York lumber treating facility to see pressure-treating
and kiln-drying operations and to discuss ongoing expansion plans across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
• Britton Lumber Company (N.H.)—A family-owned Eastern White Pine manufacturer commissioning a new
combined heat and power (CHP) plant at its Bath mill. The operation saws, kiln-dries, and planes
approximately 10 million board feet annually, with by-products put to productive use, highlighting quality,
efficiency, and rural manufacturing jobs.
JoAnne Tarr of Hancock Lumber said:
“Hancock Lumber is proud to make it in Maine. We look forward to hosting the SBA’s Made in America Initiative
at our tiny home operation and Pine Mills and showing how a people-first culture delivers quality products, good
jobs, and stronger communities.”
Bob Jackman of LaValley’s Building Supply said:
“We look forward to welcoming the SBA’s Made in America Initiative to our facilities. From modular homes to
trusses, wall panels, floor joists, and rafters, our team is proud to showcase how family-owned businesses here in
New Hampshire are innovating to meet America’s housing needs while keeping manufacturing strong at home.”
TJ Shaheen of Builders’ General added:
“Builders’ General is a fourth-generation, family-owned company, and we’re proud to manufacture custom doors
and trim right here in New Jersey. The SBA’s Made in America Initiative is an opportunity to show how millwork is
made and how the right boost can help companies like ours accelerate what we’re already building: quality
products, good jobs, and resilient domestic supply chains.”
Ben Ochs of Bestway Lumber said:
“Bestway has grown from a single lumberyard in New York to a wood treating and distribution business with five
locations, proudly serving customers spanning the eastern seaboard. As we continue to grow, we’re excited to
share our next phase of expansion. Through the SBA’s Made in America Initiative, companies like ours have
renewed opportunities to strengthen American manufacturing. For Bestway, commonsense legislation gives us
great confidence and allows us to increase capacity, improve manufacturing capabilities, and accelerate growth.
All of this adds up to more Bestway jobs, better Bestway products, and happier Bestway customers!”
Brian Moses of Britton Lumber Company said:
“We’re honored to invite the SBA’s Made in America Initiative to see our Bath, New Hampshire mill as we bring a
new CHP plant online, an investment in efficiency, resiliency, and rural jobs. From manufacturing Eastern White
Pine to distributing building materials across the Northeast, Britton Lumber is growing, modernizing, and
manufacturing in America. We’re proud to show what family-run manufacturing looks like today and where we’re
headed next.”
Alden Robbins of Robbins Lumber said:
“Robbins Lumber has been manufacturing in America for more than five generations. The SBA’s Made in America
Initiative gives companies like ours an added boost to do what we already do best; keep American manufacturing
strong, competitive, and built for the future.”
Corbin Rinehart of Windsor Mill shared:
“At WindsorONE, we take pride in producing premium American-manufactured wood products and are committed
to pushing the boundaries of what U.S. manufacturing can achieve. By inviting the SBA to tour our facility, we look
forward to sharing the launch of a dedicated R&D department that will strengthen domestic innovation and expand
opportunities for our manufacturing plants in the US. The Made in America Initiative will give companies like ours
a boost to expand on what we already do best.”
About the ABMA
The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) represents the independent lumber and building materials
industry across 16 states, and Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that strengthen independent and family-
owned businesses. ABMA members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans, provide good-paying jobs, and
manufacture essential products that support housing, infrastructure, and economic growth nationwide.
Media Contact:
Francis Palasieski,
ABMA Director of Government Affairs
fpalasieski@nrla.org | 518-982-9162
