Our Katahdin

What Our Katahdin does

Our Katahdin is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in November 2014 and headquartered at 245 Aroostook Avenue in Millinocket, Maine. It operates as a community and economic development connector for the Katahdin region, encompassing Millinocket, East Millinocket, and Medway. Its work is organized around three initiatives: (1) a Community Development Platform that enables local leaders to create plans, raise funds, and mobilize volunteers for "small win" neighborhood projects, with over $208,000 raised since 2014; (2) the Opportunity Hub at 230 Penobscot Avenue, a downtown redevelopment project set to open in January 2026 with small-business retail space, co-working facilities, and the Katahdin Gear Library; and (3) One North, a 1,400-acre former Great Northern Paper mill site being redeveloped as a bio-industrial park for forest products, renewable energy, and technology tenants, with more than $30 million committed to infrastructure restoration.

The organization is funded through a mix of individual donations, foundation grants, and federal/state government grants, including multiple U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants (most recently $4 million for the Roll Storage and Machine Shops Buildings), NBRC awards for water and wastewater infrastructure, EDA Infrastructure funding, ARPA sub-recipient grants, and Maine Community Foundation support. Its core technology consists of a crowdfunding/project-platform workflow backed by PayPal payment processing and a WordPress website, supplemented by a MeSYS wood-pellet boiler system supporting sustainable forestry operations and co-located Brookfield Renewable hydropower at One North. Distribution occurs through direct community engagement, a project-submission platform, the physical Opportunity Hub storefront, and long-term industrial leases at One North. In 2025 Our Katahdin was named Maine Investor of the Year by the Maine International Trade Center.

The entity is governed by a volunteer board led by President Sean DeWitt and supported by a small staff of approximately three (including a Director of Mill Site Redevelopment, Operations Manager/Community Development Coordinator, and Mill Site Maintenance). Its customer base is essentially the Katahdin regional community rather than commercial accounts; recurring project partners include Millinocket Regional Hospital, local schools, the Millinocket Memorial Library, and emerging industrial tenants such as Katahdin Salmon and EME Biofuels. There is no disclosed venture or private equity backing.

Name

Our Katahdin

Legal name

Our Katahdin

Website

https://ourkatahdin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Our Katahdin is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Millinocket, Maine that supports community and economic development in the Katahdin region through a community-project crowdfunding platform, the Opportunity Hub downtown redevelopment, and the 1,400-acre One North bio-industrial park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Economic Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Community development
• Nonprofit organization
• Economic revitalization
• Industrial site redevelopment
• Volunteer mobilization

Headquarters

HQ city

Millinocket

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Our Katahdin receives donations from individuals and organizations. 100% of project donations go directly to specific projects, with the exception of small PayPal fees. The organization also conducts capital campaigns for major projects like the Opportunity Hub.
2. Grants and Federal Funding: The organization receives grants from various sources including U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants, Northern Border Regional Commission, EDA Infrastructure grants, and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Our Katahdin is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes community and economic development in the Katahdin region of Maine. It operates a community project platform that enables local leaders to plan, fund, and execute 'small win' projects, redevelops the 1,400-acre former Great Northern Paper mill site (One North) into a bio-industrial park, and runs the Opportunity Hub offering retail space, co-working facilities, and the Katahdin Gear Library.

Product overview

Our Katahdin is a nonprofit community and economic development organization, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of programs and initiatives rather than technology products: (1) Community Development Program – a platform facilitating 'small win' community projects led by local leaders; (2) Opportunity Hub – a revitalization project at 230 Penobscot Ave housing retail spaces, the Katahdin Gear Library, and co-working space; (3) One North – a 1,400-acre former Great Northern Paper mill site being redeveloped as a bio-industrial park for forest products, renewable energy, and technology sectors; and (4) various community projects including the Katahdin Gear Library providing free outdoor equipment rentals through the Millinocket Municipal Library partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• One North: A dynamic hub owned and managed by Our Katahdin, dedicated to revitalizing the Katahdin region through the redevelopment of the former Great Northern Paper mill site. It aims to become a premier bio-industrial park.

Products and services

• Community Development Platform A crowdfunding and project management platform that enables local leaders in the Katahdin region to create community development plans, raise funds, and mobilize volunteers for 'small win' projects. Designed for residents and community leaders in the tri-town area (Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway).
• Opportunity Hub A multi-use community development facility at 230 Penobscot Ave in downtown Millinocket, housing retail spaces for small businesses, the Katahdin Gear Library, and collaborative co-working areas on the second floor.
• One North A 1,400-acre former Great Northern Paper mill site in Millinocket being redeveloped as a bio-industrial park, offering land and infrastructure for businesses in forest products, renewable energy, and technology sectors through long-term lease arrangements.
• Katahdin Gear Library A free outdoor equipment rental system providing cross-country ski, snow-shoe, kayak, canoe, backpack and bicycle rentals to residents and visitors, operated in partnership with Millinocket Municipal Library and Outdoor Sports Institute.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $208,000 raised for community projects since 2014
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Arcadia DesignworksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign firm located in Millinocket, Maine & Portland, Maine collaborating on development projects in the Katahdin region
• Brookfield RenewablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides renewable hydropower infrastructure for the One North site, essential clean energy resource for future industrial tenants
• Cianbro CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction and manufacturing company in Pittsfield, Maine that nominated Our Katahdin for the 2025 Maine Investor of the Year award; provides industrial development expertise
• Town of MillinocketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose municipal partner sharing vision for stronger local economy and sustainable development; joint ownership/management of One North site
• Katahdin Gear Library (KGL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Millinocket Municipal Library and Outdoor Sports Institute providing free outdoor sporting goods equipment rentals; will be housed in Opportunity Hub
• Katahdin CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Katahdin Gazetteer project and ongoing community development initiatives
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Katahdin Gazetteer project creating vision for the Katahdin Region
• Connect MEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Hotspot Installations project providing internet access to the community
• Outdoor Sport InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Katahdin Gear Library; supports outdoor recreation and tourism in the region
• Katahdin Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Millinocket Marathon support and Festival Tents Project
• Eaton PeabodyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm in Bangor, Maine providing legal and consulting services for industrial development
• Versant PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility provider in Bangor, Maine supporting energy infrastructure for development projects
• Ocean Renewable Power CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnounced plan in February 2022 for demonstration site in Millinocket Stream
• Katahdin SalmonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned lease option in February 2023 for operations at One North campus
• EME BiofuelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston-based company planning sustainable biocrude production facility on leased portion of One North campus
• Millinocket Memorial LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Mobilize Katahdin COVID assistance and co-founder of Katahdin Gear Library

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coastal Enterprises, Inc. A Brunswick, Maine-based community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides financing and business support to grow jobs, leverage private investment, and increase economic opportunity in rural Maine. Directly comparable to Our Katahdin in mission and Maine geography.
• Northern Forest Center: A regional economic development and conservation organization serving the Northern Forest region of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Highly comparable in combining sustainable forestry with rural community economic revitalization, and in working across the same four-state geography as Our Katahdin's forestry focus.
• Eastern Maine Development Corporation: A regional economic development organization serving eastern and northern Maine, including the Katahdin region. Comparable in providing economic development services to rural Maine communities and supporting infrastructure investment for industrial growth.
• Maine Coast Heritage Trust: A statewide land conservation organization in Maine that combines conservation with community economic development through land access and stewardship. Comparable in its Maine focus, nonprofit structure, and blending of conservation with community vitality.

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: A national nonprofit that combines conservation with economic development, working to protect lands while supporting working forests and community development. Comparable in integrating environmental and economic goals, though at national rather than regional scale.
• The Nature Conservancy (Maine Chapter): A global environmental nonprofit with significant Maine operations focused on forest conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable forestry. Comparable as an environmental nonprofit doing forestry-related work in Maine, though with a broader national portfolio and different primary mission.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): A national community development organization that mobilizes corporate, public, and philanthropic resources for community-based development. Comparable in mission of community-led economic development and brownfield/community revitalization, though at national scale.
• Enterprise Community Partners: A national nonprofit that creates opportunity for low- and moderate-income families through affordable housing and community development. Comparable in community-led economic development mission and CDFI-like funding mechanisms, though with a national scope.
• Trust for Public Land: A national nonprofit that conserves land and creates parks while supporting community economic vitality. Comparable in blending land/environmental work with community development, though with a national park-and-conservation focus rather than industrial redevelopment.

Emerging players

• Maine Community Foundation: A statewide community foundation that provides grants and leadership to support community development across Maine. Comparable as a Maine-focused funder of community projects, with overlap as a current Our Katahdin partner ($10K grant in 2015), though operating as a grantmaker rather than project implementer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OurKatahdin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/our-katahdin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Our Katahdin