Polyurethane manufacturer Uretek will reap the benefits of the U.S. Department of Defense’s latest policy change to require all military personnel to wear footwear made entirely in America.
Uretek, which is based in New Haven, and Boston shoemaker New Balance had been urging the Pentagon to require all military shoes to be in compliance with the 1941 Berry Amendment, which called for nearly every other piece of soldiers’ clothing to be made from domestic supplies by American companies.
Recently, the Defense Department reversed its policy on shoes, saying all athletic footwear must be Berry compliant as well.
“We anticipate orders to be forthcoming,” said Sarah McGuire, corporate counsel for Uretek. “There is no doubt this is good for business.”
Uretek will supply the polyurethane for the heel and toe of New Balance’s military athletic shoe, the 950v2. All parts of that shoe will be made entirely in America.
“This is a policy change, which is like moving a mountain at the Department of Defense,” said Matt LeBretton, vice president of public affairs at New Balance. “It is a win for Uretek, and it is a win for our domestic supply chain.”
Unlike other military supplies, the Pentagon won’t be buying large quantities of the athletic shoes in bulk under contract. Instead, the military will give personal care vouchers to its personnel to choose whichever shoe they want, as long as it is Berry compliant.
Because of this method, New Balance and Uretek don’t know how many shoe orders they will need to deliver or how many jobs the policy change will create.
“Anything that keeps manufacturing and jobs in the U.S. is good for Uretek,” McGuire said.
