Category: Blog

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.

Now into our second year of our Aquaculture Business Development (ABD) program, we continue to be inspired by the impressive men and women who are looking to diversify their incomes through shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. Read about a recent trip our ABD 2017 participants took to Southern New England to gain information and inspiration for their own businesses.

Our government’s decisions project a story to the world about who we are as people. When we step off a plane in another country, we encounter these stories, as the people we meet repeat them back to us. Read more from Island Institute President Rob Snyder on how, when our leaders’ decisions do not represent us, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to tell our own stories.

Richard Nelson has been a commercial fisherman for over 30 years. He is a member of the Maine Regional Ocean Planning Advisory Group and talks about the recent regional ocean planning meeting in Gloucester, MA.

Two weeks ago, I attended the Northeast Regional Planning Body (RPB) meeting in Gloucester, MA. The purpose of the meeting was to hear from members about how their organizations are using the Northeast Ocean Plan and Data Portal, review the progress of implementing the plan, obtain public input, and decide on next steps.

Are you looking for funds to try out a new idea or expand your business, or would you like to improve your chances of getting that loan or grant? Whether you’re currently in need of financing or not, these top five actions will help strengthen your business as well as present it as financially ready for investment.

Early last week Marine Programs Director Nick Battista and I traveled to Washington, D.C., for an ocean planning “fly-in” event hosted by the Ocean Conservancy. Groups from throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic were invited to come to Capitol Hill to talk about ocean planning, including harbormasters, recreational boaters, maritime commerce, and fishermen.

As a new member of the Island Institute, Mott Feibusch shares what he loves about living on an island, stories about Monhegan, and what being a member means to him.

The Down Bay Technology Task Force, made up of representatives from the broadband working groups of three island communities (Chebeague Island, Cliff Island, and Long Island), is seeking an engineered design for broadband infrastructure by the end of August. A request for information has been posted, and responses are due by June 16.