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V O L . X X I I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 3 , 2 0 1 6 28 T he closure of fi ve paper mills and two bio- mass power plants in Maine since 2013 hits close to home for Charlotte Mace, executive director of Biobased Maine. Both of her grandfa- thers worked at the former S.D. Warren paper mill in Westbrook, now owned by Sappi North America and one of a half-dozen pulp and paper mills still operating in Maine. Her father owns a tree farm. "I grew up in the woods with a dad who knows how to manage a woodlot," she says of her growing- up years in western Maine. at fi rst-hand knowledge of how important paper- making has been to thousands of Maine workers and their families is one reason why Mace is so passionate about the emerging biobased manufacturing sector and its potential to create new opportunities for adding value to Maine's vast forest resources in a time of rapid change and transition for the rural communities that have lost their major employer and taxpayer. As she sees it, the state has a unique opportunity to become a global leader in making products from renewable mate- rials derived from trees, agricultural waste and marine algae that will create good-paying jobs to replace those that have been lost in rural Maine. " ere's sharply rising global demand for renewable resources that come from forest, farm and sea," she says. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY My goal is to move the whole sector and get it growing our local economies again, with good- paying jobs, and making products that the whole world wants. Good manufacturing jobs is what will alleviate the stress in rural Maine. Charlotte Mace Executive director Biobased Maine, Portland Plants-to- product advocate Charlotte Mace envisions Maine's role in a global market for biobased products B y J a m e s M c C a r t h y " " " " Colors Pantone 2747 Pantone 1807 IT Solutions Designed for Your Business Finding the right IT partner is one of the most important decisions your company can make. At WGTECH, making information technology work for your business is our core competency. We develop individualized solutions that help you grow your business, improve operations, and boost efficiency. We're Northern New England's resource for advanced technology – we'd like to partner with you. www.WGTECH.com 207.856.5300 Build a Better Technology Environment