Connecting communities and boosting local capacity

Posted March 31, 2022 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

The Island Institute has long recognized the power of statewide networks to support community development work in Maine’s small, rural, and resource constrained communities. In support of of our work helping coastal communities through the community-driven broadband process and ultimately to help make sure public funds can support these efforts, we help lead the Maine… Read more »

Maine broadband and bridging two authorities

Posted March 4, 2022 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

Wait a minute—there are two broadband authorities in Maine? Yes! And here’s how they’re working together to achieve high-speed internet access for all Mainers.

Legislative Update: Winter 2022

Posted January 31, 2022 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

As 2022 begins, much of our policy focus has shifted from making a case for why public funding is needed to supporting projects and communities in applying for the numerous new or enhanced funding opportunities. Over the next few months, we will be diving in deeply to help the communities we work with understand these… Read more »

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Wellness & Self-Care in the New Year

Posted January 6, 2022 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

As we enter a new year, we know that many people are making resolutions around their personal health and well-being for the months ahead. So, in this edition of “Our Favorite Things” with Luke’s Lobster, we’re highlighting a few small businesses and organizations focused on helping us feel well and be well—ranging from island-made skincare and teas… Read more »

A Few of Our Favorite Things:
Empowering Youth through STEM

Posted December 22, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

Today’s youth and our future generations play a huge role in the viability and sustainability of our communities—both here on the coast of Maine and beyond. In our next installment of “A Few of Our Favorite Things” with Luke’s Lobster, we’re highlighting three amazing organizations that are using science, technology, engineering, and math—or STEM—to help us…

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Businesses Doing Better

Posted December 16, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

In our next installment of “A Few of Our Favorite Things” with Luke’s Lobster, we’re featuring some wonderful for-profit businesses in Maine that are doing good things for our coast and our communities. From the working waterfront to manufacturing and maple syrup, each of these businesses represent a piece of who we are and some of the… Read more »

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Gifts that Support the Coast

Posted December 10, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

This week, we’re once again teaming up with Luke’s Lobster to share some of our favorite things about Maine with you. Maine’s pristine coastlines, harbors, and working waterfronts are part of both our state’s character and economy. We depend on the ocean for its resources and the inspiration and opportunity it provides artists, visitors, local… Read more »

Maine’s climate action plan—one year later

Posted December 8, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

What do 40,000 heat pumps, 5,577 electric vehicles, and 2,043 homes weatherized all have in common? If you guessed that they are all highlights from a year of climate action in Maine, you guessed right! December 1, 2021, marked the one-year anniversary of the release of Maine Won’t Wait, the State of Maine’s groundbreaking climate… Read more »

Maine’s working waterfronts need our help

Posted December 3, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

It seemed like a no more than a week would go by and we would be at it again; handling calls or emails from individuals, businesses, and communities about the critical challenges facing Maine’s iconic working waterfronts. We knew the themes well enough: skyrocketing real estate prices creating increased pressures to sell and uncertainty for… Read more »

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Giving Tuesday 2021

Posted November 30, 2021 by Renny Sabina & filed under Blog.

This year on Giving Tuesday, in collaboration with our friends at Luke’s Lobster, we’re reigniting our series, “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” highlighting the organizations, people, and places that we cherish—both here in Maine and beyond. To kick it off, we’re featuring four Maine nonprofits we admire, whose missions are focused on inclusion, trust,… Read more »