The Katahdin Gazetteer is a 12-month Visioning process where we are going to “map out” where the region is going and how we are going to get there. This effort will be locally driven and your input and insights will make all the difference. We really need your participation to make this project a success.
The process has the support of many of our most trusted community organizations:
The steering committee for the Katahdin Gazetteer is made up of people from our area. These people are our friends and neighbors who are working hard in our communities to get our region flourishing again.
You might be wondering “Who is paying for all of this?” It’s a great question. This visioning process is paid for by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and Jane’s Trust they have given us a one year grant to work on the Katahdin Gazetteer. The Nature Conservancy will be acting as the fiscal agent for the grant, as well as contributing in a support role.
What is a “Visioning Process”? The visioning process is all about community input and engagement. This isn’t going to be one of those things where people come in and tell us what we need to do. This is an effort to identify where we see ourselves as a region in 5 years, in 10 years and in 20 years. This project will need all of us to develop a plan for the future by studying regional issues and emerging trends, identifying what assets are really important to the region, our mutual values and more. We will put together a unifying vision statement and make an action plan. Through community engagement, we can work together for the best future for all of us.
When we come together to share our ideas we can come up with a shared vision for the region. A shared vision for the region DOES NOT mean that the towns will lose their individual identity or will be forced to combine or share governance. It is a simply a vision of common goals and values. The vision will be developed based on community input and engagement, that’s why your participation is so important. We will actively discuss where are we going and what the future of our region will look like. When we have the shared vision it will start to become more real for our communities and we can start working towards common goals.
This project won’t work unless we have community involvement. We invite you to come to the dinners, happy hours, and breakfasts. Share your thoughts and your valuable insights. Fill out the surveys, and when you do, really think about your hopes and dreams for the Katahdin region. We need your input to make this work.
If you want to become actively involved with the Katahdin Gazetteer visioning process, please contact Jasmine Folster, email info@katahdincollaborative.org or call 207-794-4269.
If you reach out to any of the steering committee members they will be more than happy to help you get involved.
KATAHDIN GAZETTEER – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Katahdin Gazetteer: a roadmap to the future is being coordinated by the Katahdin Collaborative, a network of economic and community-development oriented organizations and businesses operating in the region.
A local project coordinator, Jasmine Folster, has been hired through the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce and 6-8 community ambassadors will be selected and awarded modest stipends to help with outreach and gathering community input. Project oversight is provided by a steering committee that reports to the Katahdin Collaborative.
The steering committee consists of:
| Katahdin Gazetteer Steering Committee | |||
| Name | Phone | ||
Jon Ellis |
Mt Chase, owner of Ellis Family Markets |
mainehicks33@gmail.com |
207-694-1724 |
Richard Schmidt III |
Resident, Town of Patten |
schmidtrichard113@gmail.com |
207-538-5453 |
Peggy Daigle |
East Millinocket Town Selectman |
mndaigle@myfairpoint.net |
207-746-5116 |
Deb Rountree |
Katahdin Region Higher Education Center |
dvoisine@maine.edu |
207-746-5741 |
Lucy Van Hook |
Millinocket, Our Katahdin |
lucy@ourkatahdin.com |
207-370-9456 |
Bill Patterson/Tamara Lee Pinard |
The Nature Conservancy of Maine |
wpatterson@tnc.org |
207-607-4819 |
Wende Sairio |
Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce |
info@katahdinmaine.com |
207-723-4443 |
Jasmine Folster |
Project Coordinator |
info@katahdincollaborative.org |
207-794-4269 |
The process is funded by grants from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and Jane’s Trust. As a participant in the Katahdin Collaborative, The Nature Conservancy acts as the fiscal agent for the grants.
What is the region that the Katahdin Gazetteer project will be covering?
The Katahdin Region is comprised of seven towns and unorganized territories, including Mt. Chase, Patten, Sherman, Stacyville, Medway, East Millinocket, and Millinocket.
The project will include working with the community to develop a plan for the future of the region by examining emerging trends and regional issues, identifying core assets and values, engaging the community, developing a unifying vision statement, and establishing an action plan that translates the regional vision into local, actionable items.
The vision will be developed through community engagement to examine a range of plausible futures and determining the preferred future, and then additional community input will determine how to accomplish this future for the Katahdin Region, which will become the action plan.
You can let the Katahdin Collaborative know that you are interested in participating by emailing Jasmine Folster, info@katahdincollaborative.org or by calling 207-794-4269.
No, this is about a community led vision for the Katahdin Region communities and economy. The Monument would only be considered as one of many natural assets for the Region.
No, this is a community led vision with no pre-determined outcomes.
