Paul Bunyan rolled over down there wondering why Bangor wasn't still the center of the wood industry.

This is a what if question for Bangor Maine but it could make since in any area that was once big in lumber, paper or other wood product industries. Bangor once was the lumber capital in Paul Bunyan folklore days. Then there was Paper. Great Northern Paper Co was once the largest paper mill around. Even some of the best furniture was made in these parts. What changed? Maine continues to be the most forested state in the nation. We are the closest state to the European market and have some great ports and a long seacoast. There are many reasons and many excuses. One day, it will be back! The raw materials are here. It is a very competitive world out there. We need to be on the cutting edge of new technology. New mills and more innovation are faster and more productive. If a mill does not constantly upgrade, competition takes over. We just need investors and innovative thinkers to work their magic. It would be great to have more input on this subject. A group manager who comes from the forest products industry would be ideal also.
There are some exceptions like in Baileyville where the paper industry seems to be doing well. Some will point out that the Chinese own the mill and have connections to the Asian market. Shipping bleached kraft pulp has been going on for a long time there years before the Hong Kong ownership. When GP owned the mill they were sending products to the European market via the port of Eastport. This continued when Domtar a Canadian firm bought the mill. Bucksport is on the ocean and had a deep water port. That mill did not take advantage of that important asset. I believe the state could have helped save a few of these paper mills but we have to move forward now. We have to forget the mistakes of the past and think of new ways to do things better.