Innovation Center brings new tech to former papermill

Conceptualizing future green innovation center development in Millinocket, Maine

Project Summary

Community: Millinocket, Maine
Technical Assistance: Site Design
Former Use: Paper Mill
Future Use: Green Innovation Center

The Great Northern Paper Mill in Millinocket, Maine first
began operations in the early 1800s and once operated as
the largest paper mill of its kind in the world. The company
continued to produce paper products until 2008 when
operations ceased, leaving significant infrastructure and
paper mill structures adjacent to residential neighborhoods
in town. Today, the site is being redeveloped as a green
business incubator and business hub with the leadership
of Our Katahdin, a volunteer driven non-profit organization
working to promote community and economic
development in the Katahdin region.

The Community's Challenge

There are several existing structures left on the 18-acre
focus area from the previous paper mill, including the
historic Administration Building, the Engineering and
Research (E&R) building, and the garage. While other
portions of the larger site have clear reuse opportunities
as a data technology center and transportation and
logistics hub, the remaining buildings have a less clear
future. The collection of buildings sits at the entrance to
the site. The buildings are closest to the Millinocket
Stream and adjacent neighborhood, which increases the
need for creative, sustainable, and thoughtful reuse
planning. Our Katahdin envisioned the site to be home to
a Green Research Business Campus that could
compliment other reuses on the site but needed
assistance in developing a feasible plan for the waterfront
area.

EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance
In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Land
Revitalization Program provided contractor technical
assistance to complete a site reuse plan for the 18-acre
waterfront section of the Great Northern Paper Mill site.

The reuse vision for the site focuses on a diverse mix of
uses that would support research and development for
various technologies and industries, as well as providing
supporting services and amenities. The reuse plan centers
on an adaptive reuse strategy for the Administration and
E&R buildings and blends together a phased development
approach for the remainder of the site. Open space,
sustainable stormwater management, and a trail system
are envisioned as additional amenities for the site and
surrounding neighborhood to enjoy. The site plan also
includes a phasing plan for the development of the
buildings, open space, and transportation assets on the
site as funding becomes available.

Final site plan rendering of the Innovation Cluster site.

For more information, contact Jim Byrne, EPA Region 1
Brownfields Program, at bvrne.iames@epa.gov.

&EPA

United States	Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization

Environmental Protection

Agency	560-F-22-025

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