In Rumford, one of Maine’s remaining paper mills races to survive amid industry changes

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 27, 2026

The mill has shaped this rural town’s economy for 125 years. In that time, it has brought good-paying jobs, and been a force in the state’s vital forest products economy. Along with Sappi in Skowhegan, it is one of the bright spots among Maine’s remaining mills, which have endured years of decline as the paper industry changed. It’s a sign that the problems facing the paper mills in Maine may only be temporary, according to workers, company officials and industry experts. The biggest factor facing pulp and paper mills in Maine is the digitalization of the world.