Protecting Main Street from climate impacts

As the evidence and costly impacts of climate change mount, the need to view climate action as an economic imperative — not just an environmental one — is increasingly clear. By working to guard its downtown from rising tides and flooding, with the help of a multi-million dollar federal grant, the town of Damariscotta is… Read more »

People on the Move: ConnectMaine Authority appoints Nick Battista as board chair

Nick Battista, senior policy officer at the Island Institute, has been appointed chair of the ConnectMaine Authority’s board. ConnectMaine’s mission is to facilitate the universal availability of broadband to all Maine households and businesses. Establishing criteria defining areas with inadequate service, supporting investments in broadband, and administering funds are all duties of ConnectMaine. Battista has… Read more »

Luke’s Lobster, Island Institute launching e-commerce platform for seafood producers

Luke’s Lobster and the Island Institute have partnered to build an e-commerce platform for wild and farmed seafood producers throughout Maine. The partnership, announced Wednesday, responds to diminished market demand during the pandemic, when many restaurants have been closed. The goal is to build new markets and increase the availability of lobster, crab, scallops, oysters… Read more »

Luke’s Lobster, Island Institute pool $2.5M to expand Maine fisheries market

Maine’s seafood industry is getting a $2.5 million investment aimed at making the seafood supply chain more resilient and giving fishermen and aquaculturists a broader online market during the coronavirus pandemic. The Island Institute, Luke’s Lobster and Silicon Valley Community Foundation said on Wednesday that they will put up the money and partner to expand… Read more »

Maine broadband authority’s new head is coastal specialist

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – The new chair of an authority that seeks to expand broadband in Maine is a policy specialist from an organization that works on sustainability for Maine’s island and coastal communities. State officials say Island Institute senior policy officer Nick Battista is the new chair of ConnectMaine Authority. The authority is tasked… Read more »

BDN Climate: Coastal resilience and sea level rise

We know that climate change is dangerously affecting our planet. The topic of climate change can seem overwhelming, and our goal is to use these discussions as a jumping off point for a series of locally-grounded and useful material that Mainers will find helpful in thinking through how the climate crisis is affecting their communities.… Read more »

Island Institute promotes staff to leadership positions

ROCKLAND — The Island Institute recently promoted several program staff to leadership positions within the community development organization. Kendra Jo Grindle was recently promoted to the position of Senior Community Development Officer, serving as both the Strategic Lead and Project Lead for the Broadband Team as well as the Strategic Lead for the Sea Level Rise Team.… Read more »

Island Institute wins $300K contract to roadmap Maine’s marine economy

The Maine Technology Institute and FocusMaine have awarded the Rockland-based Island Institute a $300,000 contract for spearheading an industry-wide roadmap to grow the state’s marine economy. Under the three-year contract, announced Tuesday in a news release, the nonprofit advocacy and policy organization will serve as program director for SEAMaine, Maine’s Marine Economy Roadmap/Workforce Development Project.… Read more »

Archipelago Launches ‘20 Miles’ Exhibit

The Archipelago Fine Arts Gallery, the gallery portion of the Island Insitute’s store, located at 386 Main Street in Rockland, has launched a new show, “20 Miles,” celebrating Maine’s working waterfronts. The exhibit will be on display through September 27. “20 Miles” features the work of Susan Tobey White and her series “Lobstering Women of… Read more »