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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 A U G U S T 2 0 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S G R E AT E R B A N G O R / N O R T H E R N M A I N E sustaining economic growth through having many businesses is the goal. "Previously, one company owned the mill site, they built the mill and everyone worked there," she says. Sanders, a lifelong town resident, says, "We know what happens when you put your eggs in one basket." ' The road ahead will not be easy' In 2011, New Hampshire-based Cate Street Capital bought the mill, as well as the one in East Millinocket. Promises to develop the site never materialized. By the time Cate razed the smoke- stacks, the town was close to rock bottom. An August 2014 New York Times article read like an obituary: "In some ways, the town seems as if it has frozen, with little economic growth to replace what was lost." Urban planning consultant Charles Buki, of CZB LLC in Alexandria, Va., was moved by the article, and his fi rm did a pro-bono analysis. e result was a tough blow. " e road ahead will not be easy," Buki wrote in an open letter to the town in January 2015, published in Down East magazine that March. He said improve- ment meant "fundamental change," including not focusing on things like the tax rate, but on what work was being done in the community and why. "You have to dig deeper than you have become accustomed to, and you have to start polishing Millinocket — its streets and sidewalks and homes and riverfront — on your own nickel. You have to improve your attitude towards the outside world." While some felt scolded, others in town were already getting started. In December 2014, Our Katahdin was formed as a nonprofi t that promotes "small wins." e fi rst project, led by residents Dave and Nancy DeWitt, was a crowdfunded renovation of the dilapi- dated downtown bandstand built by C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » • Business/Contract Disputes • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death • Product Liability Cases • Divorce • OUI Working tirelessly to protect you when something goes wrong Your partner for litigation and dispute resolution C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W 207.947.4501 www.rudmanwinchell.com Family Law Estate Planning/Elder Law Patent Law Business Law Commercial Real Estate Commercial Lending 207-947-4501 www.rudmanwinchell.com C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W RudmanWinchell is pleased to welcome Joshua A. Tardy and Tracy B. Collins " When our business needed fi nancing, nobody we approached would help us out. But FAME did." Chris Dowe Managing Partner/Master Distiller, COLD RIVER VODKA yes ! HELPING YOU GET TO Helping Maine Businesses Succeed Since 1983 1-800-228-3734 • FAMEmaine.com Best Places to Work in Maine 2015, 2016, 2017 Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in Looking at things in a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's a new way is what's going to make the town change. There ain't going to be any more paper-making. — Dave DeWitt Millinocket resident and former mill worker

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