Jacob Long, a 47‑year‑old former investment banker, signed a purchase agreement for the shuttered Warren Mills complex on 12 March 2014, turning the 475,000‑sq‑ft facility into a new American Woolen Company plant by the end of that year.
The mill had closed in November 2013, leaving 85 skilled workers jobless and prompting a sharp decline in Connecticut’s textile output. Long’s strategy was simple: revive the existing machinery, re‑hire veteran artisans, and focus on premium wool‑and‑worsted fabrics that could compete with European imports.
In 2019, the company landed its first major order when the US Army awarded a contract for 1.2 million yards of service‑dress fabric, a deal that expanded to the Air Force and Marine Corps over the next two years.
Today, American Woolen employs about 50 people, operates 40 high‑speed spinning looms, and has restored the mill’s reputation for quality, with a steady stream of orders from defense contractors and private apparel brands.
Long has set a target to open two additional mills in New England by 2028, citing a growing domestic demand for high‑grade wool and a desire to keep skilled manufacturing jobs in the region. The plan hinges on securing state incentives and attracting a new cohort of workers trained in specialized textile production.