January 15, 2021
Conscious capitalism
The Benefits of B Corps and Embracing the "Stakeholder Theory."
We’ve come a long way since 1970, when economist Milton Friedman told the world that companies have no responsibility to society or to the planet, only to increase profits for their shareholders. Friedman’s doctrine kicked off an era of unbridled greed in American business. 50 years later, our business community is starting to be on the mend. [caption id="attachment_23324" align="alignleft" width="231"] Ben Conniff, co-founder of the sustainable seafood company and Certified B Corp Luke's Lobster.[/caption] Since our founding in 2009, Luke’s Lobster has rejected Friedman’s “shareholder theory” in favor of…
January 12, 2021
A Few of Our Favorite Things: Purpose beyond profit
Making a Difference for People and the Planet
As we begin the new year with ambitious goals for our collaboration with Luke’s Lobster, we’re reminded of the value of B Corps, and the other partners in our state,…
January 7, 2021
What the year looked like from here
We will remember 2020 for the rest of our lives. And the way we remember will be colored by where we were as it unfolded. The view from Maine's coast and…
December 23, 2020
Commercial Currents: Wrapping up 2020
A Year. I’ll leave it at that. It’s been “A Year.” You can read whatever you want into it. Claire Donnelly and I recently sat down to wrap up our current Commercial…
December 22, 2020
A Few of Our Favorite Things: Winter Reads
With the pre-holiday frenzy behind (most) of us, we wanted to share a few of our favorite books, curated by both us and our friends at Luke's Lobster, for reading…
December 21, 2020
Focus and action: reporting back on priorities
In March, as the entire nation began to adapt to what it meant to work, study, and stay at home, the Island Institute began to take action. In a March…
December 21, 2020
What hot dogs, water tests, and juice boxes teach us about giving back
Island Institute staff on the things that keep them inspired during challenging times
If your postal mailbox is anything like mine, we’ve moved on from political mudslinging to the more inspiring, unifying season of giving. My inbox is now filled with year-end giving…
December 18, 2020
FCC announces results of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
On December 7th, the Federal Communications Commission announced the results of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which provides successful bidders with a monthly subsidy to help offset their costs of…
December 15, 2020
A Few of Our Favorite Things: Artists and makers
Archipelago, more than a store—supporting Maine's creative economy
As part of our ongoing collaborative series with the Luke's Lobster, we're celebrating Maine's creative economy and some of the incredible work that our state's artists and makers create for…
December 9, 2020
Maine marine businesses save money, reduce carbon pollution
Clean energy solutions for the marine sector reduce costs and help the environment
What if I told you your marine business could shift electrical costs from ongoing operations to capital costs and, by doing so, could pay next to nothing for electricity within…
