The Startup Reviving Maine’s Forest Economy, and Why It’s So Damn Hard to Scale Here, with Melissa LaCasse, Co-Founder at Tanbark MFP

Melissa LaCasse left public radio in New York to build Tanbark, a Maine-based startup replacing single-use plastic with sustainable molded fiber. The catch? She’s doing it in a state with almost no growth capital, aging manufacturing infrastructure, and endless red tape.

In this episode, Jonathan Bush sits down with Melissa to talk about:

• Why Maine’s forests are our best climate asset
• What it actually takes to build a manufacturing startup in this state
• Why “stewardship” doesn’t mean “don’t touch anything”
• And the frustrating lack of funding that keeps Maine businesses small

Melissa doesn’t just talk sustainability—she lives it. And this episode is a masterclass in what’s possible when a big idea meets the right place… and still has to fight like hell to survive.

📍 Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro + how Jonathan and Melissa met

01:15 – What is Tanbark and why does it matter?

05:30 – Why Melissa built this company in Maine

07:00 – How molded fiber is made (and why it’s so hard)

12:30 – What makes Maine a great place to start—but a tough place to grow

16:00 – The “valley of death” no one talks about

23:00 – What Maine’s environmentalists get wrong

27:00 – Melissa’s big vision: a new molded fiber mill in Maine

35:00 – Final thoughts on stewardship, stagnation, and economic hope

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Full episodes drop weekly—featuring the real people keeping Maine for keeps.

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