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 Currents podcast series, "Business in Uncertain Times." It’s really a review of our impressions of 2020 for businesses in Maine, successes and failures, and the lessons we’ve learned moving forward. Listen to the episode here. At the beginning of what we are now calling a marathon, we had no idea how things were going to shake out when the economy…
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…
December 8, 2020
A Few of Our Favorite Things: Gifts inspired by the sea
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…
December 4, 2020
Maine Won’t Wait: Gearing up to implement Maine’s climate action plan
Bold and durable plan will accelerate climate-related efforts along the coast and across the state
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…
December 2, 2020
How communities are helping to close the digital divide in Maine
Through a community-driven process, we can bring affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet access to everyone in Maine
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…
