Potential Low Hanging Fruit

(including some weedy details :) 
Because many tourists who visit Acadia National Park (~4M annually) travel through the Midcoast region, Kin Commons residents could, on a small, isolated section of the property (5-10 acres), build then rent seasonally a number of very comfortable, moderately priced, “glamping” campsites for individuals and families. (Average regional rates in 2025: $150/night.) 

Similarly, in another distinct section of the property (5-10 acres), a cluster of simple, seasonal, one-room cabins, could be built and rented for weekly stays. Average regional rates in 2025: $250/night or ~$1600/wk. 

Separately clustered, each of these glamping and cabin locations would include its own shared facilities: summer kitchen, showers, and compost toilets. 

An initial pilot project could be built of, perhaps, 5 glamping sites and 2 cabin sites. Seasonal management would be shared by a small team of both youth and adult Kin Commons residents – the ‘innkeepers’. Trialed for a year or two, the community could then expand the number of sites within each cluster, ranging up to whatever size the community deems best.

To build the two clusters would cost relatively little in capital investment. Yet, in only a few years time, both clusters would be producing consistent, reliable, seasonal work and revenue for 6 months of the year, May-October. Staffing need: 2 FTE spread over half a dozen PT positions.  

Revenues would be significant. At 80% occupancy or ~144 days, revenues at 2025 rates would run ~$22K/yr/glamping site * and $34K/yr/cabin site.**    

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(... if you like, to see the real weeds go here :)

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>By year 6 and beyond, after all annual expenses are met, it’s likely that sustaining net income would equal on the order of $100-125K/yr.

In any event, micro businesses / cottage industries like these, supported by residents in working teams, could contribute to the community’s fiscal welfare and our members’ sense of satisfaction, purpose, and pride. And imagine the life skills our youth would learn.

Potential High Hanging Fruit

The large size of the envisioned property (100 acres) would lend itself to planning for future growth. Imagine a nearby Phase 2 site for a second similar, multi-generation, ‘Kin Commons’-like community. Then imagine that both of these communities ‘birth’ a Phase 3 congregate housing facility solely for our young adults (18-26) aging out of foster care. A place to learn how to be independent and experience living on one’s own, while visits with family and neighborhood friends are just a walk through the woods.   

Finally, imagine a 4th Phase, mixed-rate, rental, housing complex built by and wholly owned by the Kin Commons nonprofit. Built on the same property, it might have 20-30 detached, small homes of 500-1000 sq. ft. From these leases a thin slice of the total monthly rental fee (the rest going to loan mortgage payments) could be directed to the nonprofit. This monthly income could significantly add to other Kin Commons sustaining revenue streams.

Finally, some of these neighbors, choosing to live in this particular complex, could volunteer with us, giving their time and talents to our residents.