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.
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.
September 19, 2023
From Peaks to Penn
Emma Conrad of Peak's Island reflects on how Island Institute scholarships & grants helped her reach her goals
Emma Conrad grew up on Peaks Island and has been the recipient of multiple Island Institute grants and scholarships. Emma's reflection explores how she approached the college admissions processes, navigated the pandemic as a first-year college student, and utilized the resources available to her to build upon her interests and discover her passions.
August 28, 2023
Policy on the Pier
Legislators Visit Stonington to Learn about Innovative Aquaculture
As Maine's coastal communities navigate the challenges posed by a changing environment and shifting economic landscapes, one sector stands out as a beacon of opportunity: aquaculture. At Island Institute, we recognize the vital role that aquaculture plays in supporting our communities by allowing farmers small and large to find new forms of income and are committed to working with policymakers to ensure its continued growth and success.
June 15, 2023
Learning together on Cuttyhunk Island
TLC field trip connects students, parents, and educators from island communities
The Outer Islands Teaching and Learning Collaborative is a group of Maine’s one and two-room island schools that work together to support high-quality learning opportunities for outer island students. For 14 years, this Island Institute project has brought together students, teachers, and parents from these small island schools to share curriculum, learn together, and build social connections. Our field trips are an important component of this program, which is part of the Island Institute’s work to empower students, foster strong leadership, and create more resilient coastal communities.
May 30, 2023
The Ninth Artists and Makers Conference Brings the Creative Community Together
We were thrilled to bring back the Artists & Makers Conference this year and celebrate the theme, Together Again! With over 100 attendees, eight inspiring sessions, live music, Pecha Kucha-style (lightning fast, story-telling based presentations), and more, we considered the day to be a great success!
May 30, 2023
Building Resilience
Island Institute's 2023 Business Resilience Grant Awardees
We are thrilled to announce the Island Institute's 2023 Business Resilience Grant awardees, a remarkable group of businesses and entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of building resilience in Maine's coastal communities. From Eastport to York and islands in between, these business owners are committed to sustainability, innovation, and supporting their communities.
May 17, 2023
There’s “Wicked Fast Broadband on the Peninsula,” so now what?
A regional victory and vision for highspeed internet access for all
Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Penobscot, Sedgwick, and Stonington are now served by world-class internet. The fiber-to-the-home network built by Fidium (of Consolidated Communications) was made possible by a multi-million federal dollar grant won by the State of Maine in 2022 because these communities were ready. But that readiness didn’t happen overnight. It was countless hours of community meetings, hard work, and support from our staff and other partners, plus $55,000 in Island Institute planning grants that eventually leveraged over $20 million of public and private investments to connect 15,000 homes on the Blue Hill Peninsula.
May 11, 2023
The Roux Institute Start Summit brings innovators together
A testament to the power of collaboration and innovation within coastal communities
The Roux Institute Start Summit on Innovation in Coastal Communities was truly a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation within our island and coastal communities. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, the summit generated potential solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing Maine's coast. It also provided a forum for forming new connections and partnerships, ensuring that the spirit of innovation and collaboration will continue to thrive well into the future.
April 28, 2023
Maine State Ferry Service Reports Released
Goal is to understand current system and identify opportunities for future improvements
National firm KPFF Consulting Engineers completed their reports on the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS) in March, a culmination of 2 years of work collaborating with Island Institute, islanders, and the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT). This effort largely does two things: 1) gives a clear baseline of where the service is today in a format easily understood and publicly available and 2) opens the door to whole-systems thinking around where the service could go based on Maine islander needs and comparable systems.
