Maine mill town Millinocket rebuilds identity through tourism after 2008 closure

Millinocket, Maine, built its economy around the Great Northern Paper Company for decades before the mill shut down in 2008. The closure devastated the community, wiping out jobs and eroding the shared way of life that residents had long depended on. Journalist and filmmaker Peter Santenello documented the town, with longtime locals reflecting on what was lost. In response, the community has turned to tourism and the pursuit of new industries as pathways to economic recovery. Despite the hardships, Millinocket's residents remain determined to rebuild and find a new identity for their town.