Category: Blog

Not only does September bring cooler nights, subtle changes in the leaves, and the start of a new school year, but it’s also the beginning of a new fellowship year here at the Island Institute. This year, the Institute is placing nine Island Fellows — from St. George to Eastport and Millinocket in Maine — to as far west as Beaver Island in Michigan. Our fellows are starting their year by getting to know their new communities and beginning the process of engaging themselves and others in their work.

Island Fellow alum Gideon Davidson reflects on his year on Swan’s Island and shares a special memory that he says will last long beyond his time there — one about unexpected island hospitality.

Earlier this spring, we caught up with Brendan Parsons, the founder of BP’s Shuck Shack and overall oyster entrepreneur. We first got to know Brendan through the first round of our Aquaculture Business Development program in 2015. Less than a year after getting his first seed in the water, he’s started his own retail and wholesale operations and has plans for much more. Learn more about Brendan and how he’s influencing the local oyster market.

They’re popping up everywhere! While coworking spaces may be the new trendy thing, they’ve also become another tool for communities trying to extend the shoulder seasons. When communities can attract seasonal residents and find ways for them to come earlier or stay longer, it can have social and economic benefits for everyone.

What is leadership? — Does a title convey leadership? — What does it mean to lead by example versus lead from the front? These are just a few of the questions that MAP students grappled with during their three-day Leadership Intensive at Bowdoin College in early July. Read more about the event, and how this new program is supporting Maine island students as they explore their next steps after high school.

Increasingly, Maine communities are joining forces to take a regional approach in the pursuit of reliable, high-speed internet infrastructure and service (broadband). In addition to new county-level efforts across the state, individual communities are also seeking cost-efficiencies in potential broadband solutions.

If you own a business, you know that nothing is free, although every once in a while, good advice comes at no cost. The Small Business Development Centers of Maine offer free and extensive business support services to entrepreneurs through their advisors. Learn more about these services from David Hill of Chebeague Island, an advisor for 16 years.