Millinocket, Maine, seeks economic recovery after 2008 paper mill closure

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Millinocket, Maine, once known as the “Magic City” due to its robust paper industry centered on the Great Northern Paper Company, experienced significant economic decline following the mill's closure in 2008. Longtime resident Dick, who worked at the facility for decades, recounted how the company previously served as the primary local taxpayer and provider of housing and infrastructure. Despite employees meeting profitability targets in the months leading up to the shutdown, corporate leadership decided to cease operations, which residents stated stripped the town of its stability and collective identity.

Consequences

The town is transitioning its economy toward tourism and small business development as it navigates the aftermath of losing its industrial core. This shift represents an attempt to redefine the community's future following the loss of the paper industry that previously dictated local employment and institutional support.

Sources

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