ROCKLAND, Maine — The Island Institute in Rockland has received $1.4 million to support Maine's lobstering industry through a new initiative.
The funding comes from the Small Business Administration as congressionally-directed funding and was championed by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, according to a news release from the Island Institute.
It will be used to launch a "Future of Fishing" effort which aims to bolster the state's lobstering industry by expanding economic opportunities for coastal communities and focusing on sustainability.
The three-year-long effort will be led by the Island Institute and "will create a network of statewide organizations that will develop and deploy assistance programs to businesses, communities, and individuals," the institute said in the release.
The project also aims to create business and career training programs in collaboration with local groups.
The Island Institute says the $1.4 million awarded will partially fund the Future of Fishing project, which is estimated to cost $3 million in total.
To read more about the Future of Fishing effort, click here.