Focus: Lewiston-Auburn piece on Lewiston-based Falcon Performance Footwear, on

Focus: Lewiston-Auburn piece on Lewiston-based Falcon Performance Footwear, one of two remaining shoemakers in the city, which was once a hub for the industry. In an ongoing attempt to stave off shutdown under pressure from offshore manufacturers, Falcon this year narrowed its focus from a variety of work boots to boots for firefighters. Part-owners Neil Hanley, Roland Landry, and Carl Spang knew that securing a niche market was the only way to go. N.H.-based Globe Manufacturing Co. LLC, now a part-owner of Falcon, produces firefighting gear for more than 35 percent of the fire fighters in the country. Money was invested in designing a new fire boot that could pass the rigorous standards required for firefighting, and when the design was finalized, Falcon workers went into production last year. Falcon\u27s new owners are predicting sales of $7 million this year, and up to $13 million in 2010