East Millinocket, Maine - One year ago a sense of pride and opportunity returned when Great Northern Paper reopened the East Millinocket mill putting 255 people back to work.
Today Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner George Gervais joined mill workers, local leaders and officials from Cate Street Capital to celebrate a successful first year of operations.
"Congratulations to all the employees who are back to work. Firing up the paper machines has, in turn, fired up this community," said Commissioner Gervais. "Under the leadership and vision of Cate Street, Great Northern Paper and the Katahdin region are better positioned today for long term stability."
Cate Street Capital reiterated its commitment to making Maine-made paper as well as a plan for new investment in the development of a new torrefied wood plant in Millinocket. This facility will create more than 35 new jobs and provide new economic activity for Maine's forest products industry.
Company officials credited the LePage Administration for helping make this day possible and for its continued work in assisting Cate Street with future endeavors, all aimed at putting more Mainers back to work.
Great Northern Paper now stands as the anchor in a community, having helped decrease the region's unemployment rate by more than 5 percent.
Commissioner Gervais believes the success here in Millinocket would not have been possible without significant policy changes aimed at helping our job creators. "We must sustain a climate where prosperity isn't trumped by unnecessary red tape and regulations. Cutting taxes, reducing regulatory burdens and implementing welfare and pension reform are just the beginning. We know many Maine businesses are eager to expand and we will do all we can to help them achieve that goal," said Gervais.
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