Commercial Currents

In the newest episode of Island Institute's From the Sea Up podcast, we're exploring where data meets Maine's marine economy. Learn how two Maine businesses, Marine Solar Technologies and Ocean Data Network, are driving innovation in the blue economy while filling gaps in marine oceanography. 

When we talk about “innovation” a lot of times what we're talking about is how companies increase profit and efficiency, while also improving the environment and sustainability. We're going to spend this episode focusing on innovations in the supply chain and, specifically, how one Maine company, Luke's Lobster, worked with Island Institute to assess the carbon footprint of a single lobster - from bait to plate. We'll hear how Luke's Lobster is making changes along that supply chain to lower the carbon footprint of the lobster they process, pack, ship, and serve.

In this episode, we're focusing on innovation in workforce training and education. The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is just one organization in a growing network of programs that support workforce development for Maine's Blue Economy. In this episode, we'll travel to Hurricane Island and learn how the organization serves students, researchers, fishermen, and ocean harvesters. And then we'll hear from Jaclyn Robidoux, at Maine Sea Grant, about the collaborative Aquaculture in Shared Waters program and how it is adapting to offer targeted training to better support women and non-binary folks in aquaculture. 

In this episode, we'll hear from four entrepreneurs, Patrick and Amber of Marin Skincare, and Inga Potter and Krista Rosen of Cold Current Kelp. These business owners are rethinking the uses for two of Maine's prominent marine species - lobster and kelp - and, in the process, they're creating markets that go beyond seafood. We'll learn how they built these businesses from the ground-up and how they are contributing to innovations in Maine's Blue Economy. 

When Abby Barrows and Ben Jackson of Deer Isle Oyster Company bought their oyster farm, they inherited a lot of gear. And all of that gear was made of plastic. For Abby, a marine researcher focused on microplastics in the world's oceans, this was a big problem. So, Abby and Ben set out to try to change the amount of plastic on their oyster farm. Along with other innovators like Katie Weiler at Viable Gear in Portland, Maine they're coming up with plastic-free solutions for fisheries and sea farms.In this episode, we're hearing stories about innovation in materials on Maine's coast. We'll learn how Deer Isle Oyster Company and Viable Gear are forging ahead with research and development to try to reduce plastic in the ocean. These individuals and businesses demonstrate how much effort goes into innovation, and how even the smallest change can have a huge impact on the sustainability of our fisheries. 

Islesford resembles a lot of Maine's outer islands. It has a population that fluctuates with the seasons, multi-generational year-round families, and a community of artists and fishermen. But when you arrive on this island, you may notice something different about Islesford's waterfront. The roof of the lobster co-op, a classic wooden structure on a long wharf, is completely covered in solar panels.In this season of Island Institute's podcast “From the Sea Up,” we're talking about innovation - and bringing you stories about the communities and businesses who are boldly pursuing climate solutions to support the future of Maine's marine economy. This episode looks at how Maine communities and working waterfronts are transitioning away from fossil fuels towards energy solutions that are better for the environment and more cost-effective. From electric boats to solar energy, these transitions will make Maine's coastal towns and islands more resilient - but access to these kinds of energy solutions is still limited. There are hurdles that the state, utility companies, and individual communities need to overcome - and the problems require flexible, collaborative solutions.

In the town of Cape Elizabeth, in Southern Maine, there's one last strip of commercial access on the waterfront. This access, situated within Kettle Cove State Park beside neighboring Crescent Beach, is, at high tide, just wide enough to get a boat trailer into the water and launch a skiff to get to the mooring field. In the summertime, this access and the adjacent parking lot are heavily congested. A recent redevelopment plan by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands has caused a lot of anxiety for commercial fishermen, who fear that the state will redirect recreational boating and public access from a small strip on Crescent Beach to the commercial zone at Kettle Cove State Park. In this episode, we hear from fishermen in the Cape Elizabeth Fishermen's Alliance, who are self-advocating for their final piece of commercial access in this wealthy Maine town.This podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between the Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.

Boothbay Harbor is one of Maine's tourist playgrounds with art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants, and hotels that cater to summer visitors. If you drive past the shops and condominiums along the waterfront you will see, sandwiched in and among lobster restaurants and marinas, four commercial piers with buying stations, bait companies, and other marine services that support a vibrant generational fishing community.  This is the East Side of Boothbay Harbor. In 2019, Boothbay Harbor residents voted, by a small margin, to downsize the marine use district on this side of the harbor to just 23%, allowing for 77% of the area to be used for limited commercial use. That decision was yet another blow to commercial fishermen and marine business owners in a years-long struggle to fend off development. In response to increased pressures on working waterfront access, nonprofit groups like the Boothbay Region Maritime Foundation and Boothbay Harbor Waterfront Preservation, as well as local business owners, have come up with innovative and varying solutions to sustain Boothbay Harbor's fishing heritage. In this episode, we'll explore the challenges, solutions, and future needs of these organizations and individuals. What do you lose if you lose commercial access? And who should care about it?This podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between the Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.

Nestled within an archipelago in Penobscot Bay, Stonington Harbor is a bustling working waterfront at the southern end of the island of Deer Isle. The towns of Stonington and Deer Isle share an island and a public school system, deep family ties, a culture rooted in commercial fishing and art, and, like much of the nation, a dire housing crisis. In these towns there are simply not enough places for working people to live. Over twenty years ago, a small group of passionate Islanders began brainstorming and researching one solution to the housing problem. In 2020 that group, Island Workforce Housing, broke ground on the construction of five homes, each containing two year-round rentals. This is just one solution to a monumental issue facing this island and other communities in Maine and around the country. In this episode, we'll learn about some of the history behind this community's housing crisis and what, specifically, is at risk if there are no long-lasting solutions for year-round housing. And we'll learn about two solutions that these communities are exploring: building year-round rental homes, and potentially regulating short-term rentals.  This episode was written and produced Galen Koch and assistant producer Olivia Jolley for the Island Institute. Nicole Wolf takes the photographs that accompany this episode. From the Sea Up's Senior Editor is Isaac Kestenbaum. Thanks to Kathleen Billings, Linda Nelson, and the town of Stonington for participation in this episode. Thanks to Island Workforce Housing, specifically Henry Teverow, Maggie Kirsch, and Megan Dewey Wood. Special thanks to Anna and Ryan Woosley and their family for welcoming us into their home. This podcast is made possible by the Fund for Maine Islands and a partnership between the Island Institute, College of the Atlantic, Maine Sea Grant, and The First Coast.For more information about ongoing work in the Town of Stonington to address the housing crisis, visit: https://www.stoningtonmaine.org/gov/economic-development.php

Southwest Harbor is located on the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island. A town of multiple maritime industries, Southwest Harbor boasts a tradition of superior boatbuilding and, for the past two years, has emerged as one of the top ten highest grossing lobster ports in the state. With more than four million visitors at Acadia National Park in 2021, the pressures on this side of MDI are mounting. Increased summer visitorship means business is booming, but commuter traffic, dwindling resources, and a lack of a seasonal and year-round workforce incite questions about how to sustain and support this working town. In this episode, we examine the history of Southwest Harbor's decision, as a community, to maintain and support its commercial fisheries through zoning and regulations. Visiting two iconic Southwest Harbor businesses, Hinckley Yachts and Beal's Lobster Pier, we explore the push-and-pull of Maine's seasonal economy, and the challenges and opportunities where commercial fishing, maritime industries, and recreation meet.Resources:MCP website: Maine Coastal Program | Department of Marine ResourcesShore and Harbor Grant: Shore and Harbor Planning Grants | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) – the program statement for the current year's grant can be found on this pageShore and Harbor Case Studies: Case Studies | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) This page has a map showing the locations of towns MCP funded, a list of funded projects, some write-ups about previous projects, and a story map highlighting last year's MCP projects.Resources for preserving commercial fishing access: Coastal Access | Department of Marine Resources (maine.gov) This document has a list of state grants that could be useful for improving and protecting shore access, as well as grants that can be used for waterfront construction.Penobscot Bay Study: Penobscot Bay_Summary Report 12 23 19.pdf (maine.gov) This study by MCP took a really detailed look at a number of working waterfron

A historic fishing town with over 50 miles of coastline, Gouldsboro has been at the center of a divisive controversy for the past two years. In 2020, the Norwegian-backed company American Aquafarms proposed putting two closed-pen salmon farms, totaling 120-acres, in Frenchman Bay between Gouldsboro and Bar Harbor. That proposal prompted a flurry of opposition from organizations, fishermen, and residents throughout the region. Although American Aquafarm's initial application for an aquaculture lease was denied by the Maine Department of Marine Resources in the spring of 2022, a question about the future of Maine's waters took hold in many rural coastal communities. In this episode, we visit South Gouldsboro, a small and active working waterfront with stunning views of Cadillac Mountain and the proposed lease site. With perspectives from a seaweed farmer and cultivator, Sarah Redmond, and Jerry Potter, a longtime lobsterman, this episode explores the identity and needs of one working community along Gouldsboro's expansive coast. As pressures from outside interests build in rural Maine, we ask the question: What kind of working waterfront do we want to see here in the future?

In the far eastern corner of Downeast Maine there's a 3.7 square mile island. Connected to the mainland by a causeway and road that passes through the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation, Sipayik, this island is home to the town of Eastport, population 1,300. One of the most prominent sardine canning villages along the coast, Eastport's last sardine factory closed in 1983. With that, a century-long industry was gone.In this episode we learn how Eastport has transitioned from a waterfront of empty factories to a vibrant multi-use working waterfront positioned to respond and adapt to a very uncertain future.

In this final installment of our Sustainable Seafood series, we're going big and we're going wild! We're talking about the mysterious, internationally regulated, strong, and powerful Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. The reputation of this fish and fishery is one of high drama, but despite making great television, it's a fishery that leaves a lot of consumers puzzled. And so, in this episode we're going to learn a lot about Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and hear firsthand from fishermen and researchers about why this fish belongs in a series about sustainable seafood.

From Aristotle and Sigmund Freud to modern day times, the eel has captivated us for generations. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the world of this mysterious and mythical fish. The American Eel is a unique creature. And in Maine the elver fishery—the harvesting of tiny juvenile glass eels—is legendary in its own right. Hear from Sara Rademaker, the founder and president of American Unagi, and those working in the industry about the history and future of this curious fish in Maine.

In this episode, we're talking about Maine's groundfish fishery, past and present, and the potential that exists, for both fishermen and consumers.  By eating a variety of flavorful, responsibly harvested fish caught by Maine fishermen—species like monkfish, Atlantic pollock, and redfish—we can support a diverse local marketplace and help sustain our fisheries.

In this episode, we're talking all about vegetables. But not just any vegetable. We're talking about the oldest vegetable—the fast-growing, nutrient-dense vegetables of the sea—specifically kelp. Hear from those working on the frontlines of this burgeoning industry in Maine to learn about growing and processing kelp and the benefits this powerhouse vegetable offers fishermen and the environment. 

According to Togue Brawn, owner of Downeast Dayboat, you haven't really tasted a scallop until you've tasted a Maine scallop. Maine scallops have made a comeback thanks to regulatory changes and conservation efforts. Hear from some folks who fish for this fresh, sustainable, and frankly delicious variety of Maine seafood to find out what sets it apart. 

We begin this limited series about Maine's sustainable seafood with the story of a partnership between the Island Institute and Luke's Lobster, the inspiration behind that partnership, and the fishermen and species it supports. 

Craig Olson and Claire Donnelly of the Island Institute's Small Business team wrap up the "Business in Uncertain Times" series with a look back at the past year, what it's meant for small businesses in Maine (and everywhere), and the lessons learned moving forward.

This episode is a little bit different. We’re stepping back from the current economic crisis to talk with Thomas “TL” Tutor, of ReVision Energy about the clean energy transition, and why now is actually the perfect time to invest in solar infrastructure.

In Episode 18, we talk with Kate Hall owner of GRAZE, a microgreens and juice business that Kate took ownership of in 2017. Kate talks about the challenges of being a single mom and a small business owner during the pandemic, as well as all the things she did to get creative and make the most of the summer season—which included teaming up with fellow Belfast small business owners to start Belfast Delivers, a weekly delivery service that supplies the greater Belfast area and surrounding towns with local food and products.

In Episode 17, we chat with Laura Serino and Fiona Robins of Island Apothecary on North Haven Island. Laura founded Island Apothecary in 2015, and in October, sold the business to her longtime employee, Fiona. We talk through how the pandemic was the catalyst for Laura to finally put the business on the market; how, as close friends, they negotiated the final sale value of the business; and what it was like for Fiona to buy a business in the middle of a pandemic.

In this episode, we talk with Tessa Rosenberry and Davis Saltonstall, the co-founders of ScrapDogs Community Compost located in Rockland, Maine. ScrapDogs is a composting operation with the goal of minimizing waste sent to landfills and closing the loop of production and consumption. We talk about their start-up story, the importance of sustainable food systems and their mission to create an organics management business, and how their four-month pandemic-induced shutdown in some ways actually helped them legitimize their business.

In this episode, we talk with Merritt Carey, the Community Relations Director at Luke’s Lobster. Merritt’s life has always been connected to the sea — and specifically to Tenants Harbor, Maine—beginning with her first job delivering lobster dinners to boats on the harbor at the age of 11. After serving as a member of the first all-female America’s Cup team and practicing law for several years, her dedication to that harbor and a passion for rural economic development and fisheries led to a career shift. In 2016, she partnered with local fishermen to found the Tenants Harbor Fishermen's Co-op as well as Maine’s first aquaculture co-op. This commitment to developing Maine's marine economy also solidified her connection with Luke's — first as the manager of their Tenants Harbor restaurant and then her current role as the company's community relations director.Merritt talks about the importance of adaptive learning, both before and during the pandemic, and how, as she puts it, she's "never been afraid to drink from the firehouse."

Maine’s fishermen and coastal communities have been challenged in unprecedented ways due to the impacts of the pandemic—a decrease in the demand for Maine seafood being one of them. In an effort to gain some insight into how the lobster industry is faring and what the future holds, our next two episodes will feature conversations with two people dealing with these challenges every day. In Part 1, we speak with Commercial Lobsterman Dave Cousens, then in Part 2, we'll chat with Merritt Carey, the Community Relations Director at Luke’s Lobster. Dave is small business owner and commercial lobsterman with more than 40 years of experience, who has been extremely active in the lobster industry. He previously served as the president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association for 18 years, and currently sits on the Island Institute’s board. Dave is also a full-time fisherman in the midst of a fall fishing season that he describes as "better than we thought it would be." Because of the season's surprising success, it was hard to pin him down for this interview. When we were finally able to chat, he was spending the day inshore due to bad weather. We discussed the trajectory of the lobster season this summer and his thoughts on the future of the industry in general.Please reach out at podcast@islandinstitute.org and let us know what you liked, didn’t like, and who we should talk to next.

This is the second interview in our two-part status check with some of the business owners we first spoke with at the start of the pandemic. In this episode, we catch up with Melissa Raftery and Megan Wood of 44 North Coffee (Episode 1), and we also check in with Gabe Pendleton from Pendleton Yacht Yard (Episode 2). As we hit the six-month mark of living with this pandemic, it felt like a good time to check back in see how things have gone these past few months and how everyone is doing. While it’s been a roller coaster ride for both businesses, one common theme is that while sales are down, they aren’t down nearly as much as they expected. _______________ Reach out and let us know what you liked and who we should talk to next at: cdonnelly@islandinstitute.org44 North Coffee:https://44northcoffee.com/Pendleton Yacht Yard:http://www.pendletonyachtyard.com/Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfb Island Institute Small Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusiness Apply for a Tom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

This episode is a status check. As we transition from just surviving and hunkering down to actually figuring out how to live and carry on with daily life during this pandemic, it felt like a good time to check in with the first few business owners we spoke with.In the first episode from this two-part series. we get an update from Alison Thibault, owner of WindHorse Arts on Vinalhaven Island, from episode three, who talks about her decision to close the doors to her shop and how she’s set herself up to succeed. We also speak with Liz Lovell, co-owner of North Haven Brewing Company, from episode five, who shares how their early planning back in April has paid off this summer._______________Reach out and let us know what you liked and who we should talk to next at: cdonnelly@islandinstitute.orgWindHorse Arts:https://www.windhorsearts.comNorth Haven Brewing:http://www.northhavenbrewing.comSubscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbIsland Institute Small Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessApply for a Tom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

In this episode, we talk with Cyndi Prince, founder and CEO of LooHoo, an environmentally-minded company based in midcoast Maine that makes wool dryer balls. Cyndi started LooHoo in her home and now leverages a local supply chain to meet a global market. A market that, it turns out, is fairly resilient during this tough time. As a proud, black female business owner, Cyndi also talks about the role of the Maine’s business community in addressing racial injustice, and offers her thoughts on how organizations can help amplify black voices in an intentional way that strengthens both our businesses and our communities._______________Loo Hoo Wool Dryer Balls:https://www.loo-hoo.comBlack Owned Maine:https://www.blackownedmaine.com Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessTom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

In this episode, we talk with Mark Osborn, the owner and Innkeeper of Topside Inn in Boothbay Harbor. Recently, Facebook released their "State of Small Business Report," citing hospitality as one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic, and unfortunately, the Topside Inn is no exception.Mark, a fourth-generation Boothbay Harbor summer resident turned local business owner, bought the Topside Inn with his husband Brian in 2014. Each year since then they've come to expect a fully booked inn during July and August. However, this year, despite the reopening efforts, Mark is seeing a record low number of reservations. But rather than shut their doors, Mark and Brian have decided to use this time to get creative.Learn what they're doing to help deal with the current situation and also use it as an opportunity to rethink their business model.Produced and edited by Galen Koch of The First Coast._______________Topside Inntopsideinn.com/Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessTom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

In this episode, we talk with Sam Richman, owner and chef of Sammy’s Deluxe in Rockland, Maine. As global food systems break down due to the pandemic, we see that the restaurants thriving are the ones who were already advocating for and supporting local food systems.Sammy’s Deluxe is known for its hyperlocal supply chain. The menu changes based on what is in season and what they can get from local farmers and fishermen. Because of that, Sam's supply chain hasn’t changed all that much. What has shifted, of course, is how his customers are getting his food. As many restaurants have done, he has shifted to the curbside takeout model and is just trying to figure out the best, and safest, way to run this restaurant in the months to come.Produced and edited by Galen Koch of The First Coast_______________Sammy's Deluxesammysdeluxe.weebly.com/Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessTom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

Running a restaurant in the best of times is a tricky business model to make work. Margins are slim, supply chains are delicate, and the hours are brutal. And that’s not during a pandemic. As we all know, restaurants have been hit hard, and many are struggling to figure out how to safely and efficiently be open right now.In this episode, we hear from Melissa Kelly, executive chef and owner of Primo Restaurant in Rockland, Maine. She talks about how she was able to pivot quickly, her ability to embrace innovation, and how her new business model has helped cultivate new a hyperlocal community—right in her neighborhood.Produced and edited by Galen Koch of The First Coast_______________Primowww.primorestaurant.com/Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessTom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesWe've been having so many great conversations with local small business owners, and we're always trying to think of ways to share them whenever we can. In our first mini-episode, we have a short, 10-minute conversation with Mandy and Dylan Metrano of La Nef Chocolate on Monhegan Island.Monhegan has a high influx of tourists on daytrips in the summer months. This allows for their seasonal businesses to thrive, despite a very small year-round and summer population. However, this also means that the current pandemic is putting these businesses in a vulnerable position for the upcoming summer.But Mandy and Dylan are doing their best to pivot and make it work. Mandy and Dylan talk to us about the ways in which they're pivoting right now, the challenges of running an exclusively e-commerce business on a remote island, and the importance of cultivating a community with their customers.(Photo: Kelli Park kellipark.com/)_______________La Nef Chocolate:www.lanefchocolate.com/Subscribe to the Commercial Currents emails:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall Business Support:www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessTom Glenn Community Business Resilience Grant:form.jotform.com/201274314776152

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesIn this episode, Peter Piconi, Marine Business Specialist at the Island Institute, talks with Brendan Parsons of Black Stone Point Oysters LLC. Having grown up in Damariscotta, Brendan is now an oyster farmer, a restaurant owner, and a three-time State of Maine Oyster Shucking Champion. Since his business is largely dependent on tourism, Brendan discusses the importance of network building in this uncertain economy. This episode features Galen Koch of The First Coast.Subscribe to the Commercial Currents newsletter here:eepurl.com/b4RMfbSmall business resources:www.islandinstitute.org/resources-sma…nd-nonprofitsThe First Coast:www.thefirstcoast.org

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesIn this episode, we talk with Liz Lovell of North Haven Brewing Company on North Haven Island. She talks about how they’ve rewritten their business plan and are doing whatever they can do keep the lights on—but also to be safe and help keep the community healthy. And along the lines of staying open, we also chat with Rebecca Falzano, co-founder of Helm Digital, the marketing firm that started Maine Open Online, a website database that any Maine business who sells online can and should join for free.For further information on pieces mentioned in this episode, visit the following links:Island Institute Business Resilience Grants: www.islandinstitute.org/tom-glenn-com…y-impact-fundIsland Institute Small Business Support: www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusinessSubscribe to our Commercial Currents newsletter and small business news: eepurl.com/b4RMfb

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. To understand how our local businesses are doing, we are making a series of recorded interviews. These are pre-recorded, short conversations are to help us understand how local business are doing in this time of global pandemic.In the fourth episode, Senior Community Development Officer, Craig Olson, chats with Shannon Byers the Center Director for the Maine Small Business Development Center at Coastal Enterprises. As a business advisor Shannon has been quick to respond to the covid-19 crisis. Not only has she been helping business owners navigate federal aid, but she’s been working hard to help businesses owners innovate and think creatively right now.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.This week’s episode is in two parts. The first part is a conversation with Craig Olson, Senior Community Development Officer and head of the Small Business team at the Island Institute, about the nuts and bolts of the CARES Act.The second part is a conversation with Alison Thibault of WindHorse Arts, a jeweler of 20 years who owns a brick-and-mortar shop in downtown Vinalhaven and has been working to stay on top of Small Business Administration's various disaster relief programs. She takes us through her application to the Paycheck Protection Program and shares her concerns for the future of brick-and-mortar shopping.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.In Episode 2, we speak with Gabe Pendleton of Pendleton Yacht Yard on Islesboro as he navigates the SBA relief loans and the recent CARES Act.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.In this first interview with Deer Isle-Stonington's 44 North Coffee, owners Melissa Raftery and Megan Wood talk about the changes they've made to keep business going.