Category: Blog

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 providing internet access in rural areas. 4 providers in Maine are set to receive $71 million in subsidies over 10 years that cover slightly more… Read more »

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 us to enjoy throughout the year. Maine has long been known for being home to fine artists and makers of all kinds. The Island Institute’s… Read more »

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 ten years? And what if doing so would cut carbon pollution too? This is not some environmental fantasy, but the actual results that businesses along… Read more »

As part of our new collaborative series with Luke’s Lobster, we’re continuing to highlight some of our favorite things about Maine. Maine’s scenic coastline, harbors, and waters serve as a constant source of inspiration for artists, visitors, local entrepreneurs, and residents alike. This week, we’re thinking about a few small businesses who are using this… Read more »

While much of coastal Maine struggled with power outages and flooding as a powerful early winter storm unleashed strong winds and heavy rain—all on top of a global pandemic—leaders of the Maine Climate Council marked December 1, 2020 by delivering its groundbreaking climate action plan to Governor Janet T. Mills. “Maine Won’t Wait, A Plan… Read more »

The Island Institute’s mission and values are strongly rooted in the communities we serve. It is the priorities of these communities that power our work. This is why we believe a community-driven process is the strongest path to help communities take action on the issues that are important to them. Community development empowers community members… Read more »

In honor of the holiday season and in the spirit of giving, we’re collaborating with our friends at Luke’s Lobster on “A Few of Our Favorite Things,” a series highlighting the people, organizations, and places we cherish in Maine. For Giving Tuesday, we’re kicking off this series with three Maine organizations doing wonderful things for… Read more »

It seems like there is a general unease as we head into another Maine winter. The days are getting colder and shorter, COVID cases are starting to rise again. Like us, you are probably starting to worry a bit about the isolation of getting through the winter. Add to that the fact that many of… Read more »

Since March, Maine’s island communities have faced a variety of logistical and other unique challenges in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. But thanks to a new state effort to distribute rapid tests to communities around Maine where there are challenges to accessing immediate point-of-care, tests are now available in many island communities. As of November… Read more »

Twenty-five years ago, I made a conscious choice to avoid the issue of race. And because I am a white woman, living in a majority white community, I had the privilege of making such a choice. I had just earned my master’s degree in counseling, where I had done my ‘student counseling’ in two Boston… Read more »