Our Katahdin Newsletter - Spring 2019

Spring is finally starting to show up here in the north woods. The snow is melting rapidly, the rivers are running, bare ground is starting to green up, and the mountain is as beautiful as ever still covered in snow. Here's a snapshot of what we've been up to over the winter.

Our Katahdin has high hopes for the future of the Katahdin Region. We support three economic drivers: the forest products economy with traditional and modern applications, the digital economy with fiber broadband, and the outdoor recreation economy with potential for four-season destination development. We believe in doing this work collaboratively, which is why we staff the regional network called the Katahdin Collaborative.

For the past year, the Katahdin Collaborative has worked with community members from eight towns in the region, a nine-person steering committee, and Adam Burk + Co. to gather input from residents, businesses, organizations and collaborators to create a vision and action plan called the Katahdin Gazetteer: A roadmap to the future. The Katahdin Gazetteer met people at events throughout the region, hosted our own All in! Katahdin events throughout the summer, hosted an Idea Lab last May, and a public Vision Workshop last September. The workshop was a six day event that included open conversation about community issues and interactive boards for community members from across the region to respond to. Over the winter we held four public meetings to review drafts of the vision and action plan, and posted drafts online for comment. Throughout the process the Gazetteer posted events, updates, and invitations to participate on the Collaborative Facebook page, website and the local newspaper and radio station.

We've enjoyed being a part of this visioning process, and want to join the Katahdin Collaborative in inviting you to attend the final presentation of the Katahdin Gazetteer: A roadmap to the future. It contains great ideas and first steps that are ready for action!

Join in. Final presentation is Wednesday April 24th at the Town Hall in East Millinocket. A light meal will be served at 5:30 and the highly interactive presentation kicks off at 6:00 pm.

Clean-up at 230 Penobscot If you take a drive into Millinocket and turn left onto Penobscot Avenue, the green siding and empty storefront of the Miller's building (230 Penobscot) looks the same as it has since Our Katahdin purchased the building in 2016. That same, familiar exterior is hiding all of the work going on inside! Read More
Mill Site Update Despite the persistent snow, Our Katahdin has been diligently working on building relationships with potential tenants and settling the lien with the IRS. Read More	Students Share Thanks for Reading Lounge Chairs You generously donated to create a reading lounge for middle school students. The bungee chairs and bean bag chairs are in the classroom and welcome readers every day! Eighth grade students wrote a blog post sharing their appreciation and experiences. Read More
Baxter Business Works Our Katahdin teamed up with Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) to offer a 6 week business development class called Baxter Business Works. We are so grateful to collaborate with great Maine organizations to support our local businesses! Read More	Broadband Basics The Katahdin Region Broadband Utility made up of the towns of Medway, East Millinocket and Millinocket has created its Board of Directors and they are getting "up to speed" on high-speed internet. Our Katahdin continues to support bringing broadband to the region by providing staff support. Read More