Island Institute

📣 We're looking for an adventurous and determined college grad to join the esteemed Island Institute Fellowship Program! 📣 As we wish Fellow Lucia Daranyi the best of luck in her next adventure, we're searching for someone to continue her important work on Deer Isle and Stonington, supporting Adult & Community Education programs through outreach and engagement. This position provides a unique opportunity to gain real-life, place-based professional experience while living and working on one of Maine's vibrant island communities. To see more info & apply, click here 👉 https://bit.ly/4amQdwX

Join us THIS THURSDAY at 10 AM to hear how working waterfront businesses are recovering from the 2024 winter storms and their vision for the future. A senior civil engineer will be sharing tips for rebuilding infrastructure to withstand future storms! 👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/4ak9zTh

One year ago, a series of devastating winter storms tested the strength of Maine’s coastal communities. Wharves were battered, working waterfront businesses flooded, and the livelihoods of those who make a living on the water were left hanging in the balance. Yet, Maine faced these storms the way we always face challenges: together. In the aftermath of destruction, neighbors stepped up for neighbors. Fishermen, families, and local leaders joined forces to repair and rebuild. Volunteers filled gaps, businesses shared resources, and the spirit of collaboration became a beacon of hope along the coast. Less than a week after the second January storm, Island Institute began awarding the first round of Storm Response Grants. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, $250,000 in grants were distributed to 52 working waterfronts across 30 island and coastal communities. The combined efforts of Island Institute, peer organizations, and state and federal agencies created a relief effort that was critical to ensuring marine businesses across the coast could continue to operate. Today, Island Institute remains steadfast in our commitment to coastal recovery, providing ongoing support through grants, sharing practical resources, offering technical support, and advocating for policies that strengthen our working waterfront. On this anniversary, we reflect on the resilience of Maine’s coastal communities and the power of working together. Because when we face challenges together, we come back stronger.

As we near the one-year anniversary of the devastating 2024 winter storms, let’s come together to reflect on their lasting impact on our coastal communities and look ahead to a stronger, more resilient future. Join us on January 16, 2025, at 10 AM for the third webinar in the Storm Response in Action series. This conversation will highlight the experiences of working waterfront business owners: how the storms impacted their livelihoods, where they are today, and their vision for the future. A senior civil engineer will also provide expert insights into rebuilding working waterfront infrastructure to withstand future storms. 👉 REGISTER TODAY: https://bit.ly/3BJ9r2X Moderator: 🔹 Sam Belknap, Director, Center for Marine Economy, Island Institute Featured Speakers: 🔹 Christina Fifield, Owner, Fifield Lobster Company, Stonington, ME 🔹 Jason Chipman, Owner, Chipman’s Wharf, Milbridge, ME 🔹 Derek Lapointe, General Manager, Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bass Harbor 🔹 Lissa Robinson, P.E., C.G., M.C.P.D., Senior Civil Engineer, Hydrologist, Geologist, Land Planner, GEI Consultants, Portland, ME

Season’s Greetings from Maine’s Coast! ❄️ From all of us at Island Institute, may your holidays be filled with the warmth of community, the spirit of connection, and hope for a bright new year! 📍 Community Shellfish, Bremen, ME

We are proud to have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid—the highest level of transparency, reflecting Island Institute's commitment to trust and accountability. Among the information we share with funders, donors, and the public are key insights like our strategic plan, goals, and the metrics we track to measure progress and results. To celebrate this milestone, let’s play a guessing game with one of those metrics! 🎉 💡 In 2023, how many in-person community visits do you think our community development and policy staff made to coastal and island communities? Put your best guess in the comments! 👇

Like Monhegan, up and down Maine's coast, communities are facing serious challenges as sea level rise intensifies the impact of storms. Preparing and responding to this complex, costly issue tests the strength and adaptability of our small communities. You can help. Island Institute Fellows live and work alongside these communities, providing critical support. By collaborating on community-led projects, Fellows help strengthen local economies, address pressing challenges, and build a more resilient future. We are asking for your support. Your gift helps place Fellows like Thomas in communities to tackle projects that protect Maine's coast and thrive in a changing world. Give today to lend a helping hand and secure a stronger future for our coast: https://bit.ly/3VIuAB8

🌊✨ Big news for Cold Current Kelp! This women-owned kelp farm and skincare company has been awarded a USDA Value-added Producer Grant to expand their business! Island Institute is proud to support Cold Current Kelp, one of many businesses driving innovation and economic resilience along our coast. 🎧 Curious about their kelp-infused skincare? Check out Season 3, Episode 3 of our From the Sea Up podcast to hear their story: https://bit.ly/3WZYnpL 🛍️✨ Shop for Cold Current Kelp facial oil—and other unique Maine-made creations—at Archipelago. Perfect for holiday gift-giving while supporting local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. Visit our Rockland store or shop online: https://bit.ly/3VBCkER 📸 Nicole Wolf From the Sea Up podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.

Stay safe tonight! In an interview with Bangor Daily News, Island Institute's Senior Ocean Scientist Susie Arnold emphasized the importance of preparation for Maine’s coastal communities, noting that severe storms could still strike this winter despite milder forecasts. Susie shares some storm-ready tips: 1. Know your floodplain: Understand your property’s flooding risk. 2. Plan for tides: Prepare for high tides coinciding with wind events. 3. Secure items: Move lobster traps, secure fuel tanks and other objects before storms. 4. Stay connected: Check in with neighbors, family, and friends before, during, and after storms, especially in isolated areas. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4iHIkpA (You may experience a paywall.)

Happening tomorrow at 3 PM on Zoom! Join us for the second webinar in our series on coastal resilience for working waterfront communities. Please register here: https://lnkd.in/eknZSsex Hear from State policy officials on the latest updates on Maine’s recovery efforts following last year’s storms and how the state is rebuilding and planning for a more resilient future. 🗓️ Tuesday, December 10 at 3 PM on Zoom Featuring: 🔹 Sarah Curran - Deputy Director, Climate Planning and Community Partnerships, Office for Policy Innovation and the Future 🔹Rob Wood - Director, Bureau of Land Resources, Maine Department of Environmental Protection 🔹Deirdre Gilbert - Director of Policy and Management, Maine Department of Marine Resources Moderated by: 🔹 Nick Battista - Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, Island Institute