On April 24, 2019, over 80 community members from Mt. Chase to Millinocket gathered together in East Millinocket to hear the final presentation of the Katahdin Gazetteer: A roadmap to the future, the regional vision and action plan built from community voices over the past two years. 

With over 203 concrete actions to work towards a better future for the region, this is not a plan for the shelf. It requires action, collaboration and perseverance. Local organizations, individuals, newly formed committees, and long standing institutions are already rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. 

At our quarterly Katahdin Collaborative meeting in June, those present shared what they are up to. This is not an exhaustive list. The Collaborative is working on creating a system for tracking actions in the works to help connect people to projects and resources. Collaborative meetings are open to all and are posted on the website. Find out more on the Collaborative website: www.katahdincollaborative.org, and pick up your own copy of the Gazetteer by downloading it from the “Initiatives” page. 

Participants shared what they are working on. Check out how many groups are working for a better future. They are in no particular order. If you are interested in joining a project or know of additional actions underway, please reach out to Lucy at Our Katahdin, or a member of the lead organization listed.  

Our Katahdin- IRS Lien settlement and resolution on Millinocket mill site, 230 Penobscot Ave exterior building renovation

Millinocket Memorial Library-  $1.25+ million dollar renovation of current library built in 1963, Opening Katahdin Gear Library for summer gear lending. 

Friends of Baxter State Park - Hiring part time local outreach coordinator, Expanding youth conservation corps to include another week and establish connection with FKWW

Friends of KWW - Convening an all ages task force, Continuing place based education experiences,  3rd anniversary celebration August 24th

Patten Planning Board - Patten planning board is going through the Gazetteer ‘grow vibrant villages’ section to connect with other towns

Thrive Penobscot - Helped get Millinocket listed as an age friendly community and serve on town committee, Support Katahdin Food Council- helped create a flyer, working to get word out about Mainers Feeding Mainers- funding is ending soon

Katahdin Woods & Waters - Navigation signs have been made, they’re in Patten- 22 signs leading to monument, Expanding infrastructure 3 new trails including handicap accessible trails, new bathrooms, 3 new bridges & loop road graded

East Millinocket - Found out moneys available for the town to be able to purchase land around landfill, Moving toward purchasing mill site, Starting on land use ordinances

Katahdin Club- mainly for seniors & pre-seniors, Trying to encourage more members to join, Support Island Falls library & Southern Aroostook Scholarship, & food pantry

Katahdin Tourism Partnership - Lake project at dyke is looking great, needs greenery but almost done, bathrooms will be phase 2, Heritage park lawn is seeded- DOT has trees to plant, Working with Chamber of Commerce to become more efficient

Patten Academy Park - Raised beds have been planted, Looking to work on event lawn

Elliotsville Plantation - Started planting trees with local students - planted 115 fruit trees- community orchards, Strategic planning to figure out what can help the region

Island Falls development committee - Doing a feasibility study for sewer, Architectural study for local historical building, Short term lodging inventory completed, Looking to start farmers market & cooking for crowds cooking class opening soon,  Want to start work on river walk trail in the KG, Identifying Historic trails in town, Pop-up welcome center for town, Meeting with local atv club to offer tour rides for visitors in the region, Working with local guide to do guided tours down the river for visitors in the region

Shin Pond Village - Working on local trails & old railroad to trails for hiking & biking & connect with schools with RTP funding

The Nature Conservancy - Trout mountain trail & fire tower to be built on the top, Capacity to lead effort on Recreational inventory (first step to signs), Part of the Structure committee from Collaborative members

Katahdin School board - Collaborating with other schools to create best resources for kids, Healthy foods director hired

KRDB- economic dev director - Hired, Mike Elliott. Have an office at KHEC & Patten rec building & Sherman UVEC building, Working with business to expand in the region with potential 25 jobs, Creating criteria list for the region gathering all of the towns lists and information 

Sewall House- Working to restore the opera house

Katahdin Higher Education Center - Free EMT training available, hosting important resource fairs

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Park - Working to involve Wabanaki in the monument, Anthropologist & archaeologist on staff, Connecting public with history

Millinocket -  Created an events committee for the 4th of July celebration, Became an Age Friendly community, exploring CDBG opportunities

Katahdin Area Trails - AmeriCorps volunteers back at Hammond Ridge to construct 5 more miles of single track mountain biking trails, weekly ride starting Tuesdays at 5pm for the summer