AUBURN – Lowe’s, the world’s second-largest home improvement retailer behind The Home Depot, plans to open its first Maine store in Auburn before the end of the year.

The North Carolina-based company said the 150,000-square-foot facility will be located on Mount Auburn Avenue, next to Wal-Mart.

The $16.5 million project is expected to provide 175 jobs, most of them full-time.

Lowe’s also plans to open a store in Brunswick.

Lowe’s is a fast-growing chain with 950 stores in 45 states, The company plans to add 140 new stores this year and 150 in 2005.