Congratulations to Biobased Maine member Our Katahdin on its $5.3 million grant to invest in critical infrastructure at the former Great Northern Paper Mill site in Millinocket.

“Our number one goal is to bring back jobs to the area. We knew that a major investment in the core infrastructure was needed to attract companies and further investment. We are grateful to our dedicated staff and voluntary consultants who have developed a site plan that utilizes the legacy assets and allows for development of the greenfield site,” said Our Katahdin president Sean DeWitt.

The grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) will transform the 1,400-acre paper mill site into an industrial park for next-generation forest products, such as cross-laminated timber manufacturing, biorefining and nanocellulose production.

“Our number one goal is to bring back jobs to the area.”—Sean DeWitt, Our Katahdin president

Our Katahdin purchased the former paper mill site in January of 2017, and the investment will leverage the site’s competitive advantages, which include access to wood fiber via the Golden Road, reliable hydroelectric power from Brookfield Renewable, rail access via CMQ Railway, wastewater discharge and clean, cold water.

The news of the grant was announced just after Biobased Maine joined industry stakeholders in the FOR/Maine coalition to release a new vision for Maine’s forest industry which calls for growing the forest sector by 40 percent by 2025.

“Our Katahdin views this EDA grant as a first step in ensuring the Katahdin region maximizes its contribution to this bold and necessary ambition,” writes Our Katahdin.

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