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Updated: September 5, 2025

Ocean farming and fishing diversification are the focus of Island Institute grants

Hands wearing blue gloves hold a shell. FILE PHOTO / JIM NEUGER Numerous oyster farmers received community impact fund grants from the Island Institute. Here, a measuring stick determines whether an oyster goes to market or back into the water.
By Laurie Schreiber

A solar-powered nursery for kelp cultivation is among 56 projects awarded $214,000 in grants from the Rockland nonprofit Island Institute’s Glenn Fund community impact grants program.

The program is for projects that advance climate solutions, economic opportunity and community resilience across Maine’s coast and islands.

In Gouldsboro, Springtide Seaweed will pilot a solar-powered nursery for kelp cultivation. On Islesboro, funding will support climate adaptation planning for a vulnerable stretch of road known as the Narrows — an essential lifeline for residents that is prone to flooding.

The ocean is washing up onto a road.
Photo / Courtesy Island Institute
Islesboro’s multi-year effort to adapt a critical, low-lying road to withstand stronger storms and rising seas received a community impact fund grant from the Island Institute.

“Island Institute’s community impact fund supports coastal changemakers — early career professionals, small business owners, town leaders and fishermen — as they transform bold ideas into meaningful impact,” said Kimberly Hamilton, the institute’s president.

The recipients included 32 businesses and individuals. Twelve municipalities and community groups received climate planning and community impact grants.

Marine innovation 

  • Brunswick: Maine Ocean Farms LLC, Dingley Cove Oysters
  • Cumberland: Fishing Vessel Josey Wales LLC
  • Yarmouth: Madeleine Point Oyster Farms, the Boat Yard LLC, Casco Bay Mooring
  • Prospect Harbor: Bottom Line Fisheries Inc.
  • Brooksville: Tapley Cove Oyster Co.
  • Georgetown: Eros Oyster
  • Stonington: Redde Marine Safety, Deer Isle Oyster Co.
  • Falmouth: Beso Del Mar Oyster Co.
  • Freeport: Love Point Oysters
  • Pemaquid: Pemaquid Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Wiscasset: The World Is Your Oyster
  • Gouldsboro: Springtide Seaweed LLC
  • North Haven: North Haven Oyster Co.

Early professional workforce 

  • Deer Isle: Harrison Boyce, Kianna Heanssler, Jonathan Parker
  • Stonington: Project Launch, Madison Eaton
  • Long Island: Emeline Avignon
  • Islesboro: Eva Marie Olson
  • North Haven: Caden Cabot, Jack Ames, Quinton Spence
  • Sunset: Grace McGuire
  • Thomaston: Charlotte Strong-Ames
  • Isle au Haut: Lilyanna Sollberger
  • Vinalhaven: Aidan Hoffses

Fishing diversification 

  • Addison: Anonymous, Schoppee Fisheries
  • Islesford: NSPhilbrook, Richard Howland Lobster
  • Monhegan: Chum Again Charters, Anonymous
  • Vinalhaven: Anonymous
  • Phippsburg: Lawrence Pye
  • Brunswick: New Meadows River Shellfish Cooperative
  • Tenants Harbor: Tenants Harbor Fishermen’s Co-op
  • Prospect Harbor: Bottom Line Fisheries Inc.
  • Swan’s Island: Jason Joyce Inc.
  • Nobleboro: Morning Star Fisheries LLC

Community impact 

  • Monhegan: Monhegan Plantation (Monhegan Wharf)
  • Ellsworth: Hancock County Planning Commission
  • Blue Hill: Brooklin Climate Response Committee
  • Deer Isle: Deer Isle Adult and Community Education
  • Swan’s Island: Swan's Island Educational Society
  • St. George: Town of St. George
  • Peaks Island: Home Start

Climate planning 

  • Islesboro: Town of Islesboro
  • Matinicus Island: Matinicus Isle Plantation
  • Tremont: Town of Tremont
  • Isle au Haut: Town of Isle au Haut
  • Peaks Island: Peaks Environmental Action Team

Established in 2017 through a grant from the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, the Glenn Fund has provided nearly $2 million to small businesses and community projects, from pandemic relief for small businesses in 2020 to storm recovery for working waterfronts in 2024.

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