January 30, 2024

Island Journeys after the Storm

Three days after back-to-back storms that pummeled Maine’s coast in January, Maine Seacoast Mission welcomed Island Institute to join them aboard the Sunbeam to get a firsthand look at storm damage, connect with island residents and businesses, and lend a hand with clean-up efforts.
Stephanie Welch, Public Policy Director
January 19, 2024

January 2024 Storms: Frequently Asked Questions

On January 16, 2024, Island Institute hosted a webinar to share information and resources to help community members navigate the devastating impacts of the January 2024 storms. During the webinar, many questions were submitted into the Q&A, and we're following up here with further information about the most frequently asked questions.
January 16, 2024

Webinar Recording: Storm Recovery and Resources

On January 16, Island Institute hosted a webinar with Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher and Department of Economic, Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson, and Maine Emergency Management Agency Director, Mitigation, Planning and Recovery Anne Fuchs.
January 11, 2024

January 2024 Storms: Resources

In the wake of the recent storm, our Island and coastal communities are grappling with the devastating impacts of severe flooding and storm damage.  To support the families and businesses through this difficult time, we want to share resources to access the help they need to recover from this storm and prepare for the next.
December 15, 2023

Stonington Talks Climate

125 community members joined the conversation in the first of a new series sponsored by Island Institute.
On Wednesday, December 6th, The Town of Stonington kicked off the first of a three-part series called “Talk of the Towns,” at the Stonington Opera House. Island Institute is sponsoring the series. The first talk: “Sea Level Rise, Warming & Storming: Navigating for Climate Resilience in Fishing Communities” featured a panel with Island Institute’s Dr. Susie Arnold.
Kate Klibansky, Community Development Officer
November 14, 2023

Continuing Community Collaboration

Flagship Fellows’ Program receives Federal Funding Boost
The Island Institute Fellows program was recently awarded a USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant for the support of three fellows including Grace Carrier who supports the Brooklin Climate Response Committee.
Lisa Millette, Community Development Officer
October 26, 2023

Island Students, Teachers, and Families Connect

Inter-Island Event tradition persists and continues to benefit island schools
The Inter-Island Event is a grass roots outer-island tradition that has taken place nearly every fall since the 1980s in which the children of Maine’s outer island schools convene on a host island for an opportunity to expand their social networks and connect with kids from other island communities. The schools that participate in the Inter-Island event have some of the smallest student populations—in fact, the children on most of these islands can count their classmates on one hand.
Jack Sullivan
October 26, 2023

Supporting Coastal Entrepreneurs

USDA Rural Development Infuses Island Institute’s Loan Fund for Coastal Businesses
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an award on October 17 to Island Institute for nearly $87,000 from its Rural Business Development Grant program. These funds will go towards supplementing the Tom Glenn Community Impact Fund’s revolving loan fund.
Jeff Frank, Senior Community Development Officer
October 12, 2023

Reflections on the Maine Climate Council Meeting

Maine Makes Progress on Several Fronts Toward Its Climate Goals
At a late September kickoff meeting for the next round of work by the Maine Climate Council, the Council and working group members heard from community stakeholders, legislators, students, and climate science experts about the how Maine has been doing in terms of implementing the 2020 Climate Action Plan, Maine Wont Wait as well as some of the latest knowledge about climate science and impacts to the State.  
Nick Battista, Chief Policy Officer
October 11, 2023

Policymakers Examine the Oyster Farming Process

Legislators Visit Bremen to Learn How Farmers Grow Oysters
Earlier this month, Island Institute hosted an aquaculture tour that showed local and statewide policymakers the lifecycle of how farmers grow oysters.  This tour a variety of important legislators and others elected officials including state Sen. Cameron Reny, Reps. Allison Hepler, Victoria Doudera, Holly Stover, Lydia Crafts, and town officials from Newcastle and the Midcoast Council of Governments.  
Jeff Frank, Senior Community Development Officer