DECEMBER 2004

Genesis Receives $220,000 Grant to Support Year-Round Island Communities

Maine’s island residents have gained new support in their efforts to sustain year-round communities. A $220,000 grant from Jane’s Trust to the Genesis Community Loan Fund will be used to match local fundraising for housing and community facility projects on Maine’s year-round islands. Disbursement of the funds through the Islands Challenge Fund at the Maine Community Foundation will be overseen by an advisory committee that includes island residents.

In making this grant Jane’s Trust hopes to leverage funding for future projects. In addition to the local match from island communities, Genesis will be required to raise an additional $50,000 from off-island sources to obtain the final $100,000 of the grant. “We’ve got our work cut out for us, but this is an exciting opportunity to provide needed support for island projects at a crucial period in the history of year-round island communities,” stated Garrett Martin, Associate Director of the Genesis Fund.

Since the early 1900s, the number of islands with year-round populations has diminished from 300 to 14. Remaining year-round island communities are being eroded by escalating property values, a scarcity of affordable housing and facilities, and uncertainty about the future of fishing in the Gulf of Maine. These issues are highlighted in a video released by Genesis in August titled “Against the Tide: Halting the Erosion of Year-Round Island Communities.” The video spotlights creative efforts on the Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Monhegan and Vinalhaven to address these issues and reinforces the need for private support similar to that being provided by Jane’s Trust.

While Genesis took the lead in submitting a proposal to Jane’s Trust, the success of the application can be attributed to the efforts of a number of individuals and organizations. “The involvement of residents from Islesboro, Vinalhaven, North Haven, Great Cranberry, Chebeague, Peaks and Monhegan, as well as representatives of the Island Institute, Maine Community Foundation and Maine Sea Coast Mission helped make a strong case for the grant. We look forward to a continued relationship with these individuals and organizations,” commented Martin.

For more information on the grant from Jane’s Trust or on the Genesis Community Loan Fund’s work with island communities contact Liza Fleming-Ives at 207-563-6073.

 

^ Island Challenge Fund Overview

^ Sample Island Projects

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