Four outlets receive second-year Newsroom Sustainability grants to keep building local revenue
A year ago, Alamosa Citizen had a growing audience but no one whose job was to turn readers into supporters. Today it has a membership coordinator and a membership rewards program with about a dozen local merchants.
Colorado Media Project (CMP) is proud to renew its support for Alamosa Citizen and three other local news outlets, with $155,000 in second-year Newsroom Sustainability grants. The program funds the people and systems that help outlets earn lasting support from their communities.
“Strong local news needs more than funding for coverage. It needs the ability to generate its own revenue,” said Kimberly Spencer, executive director of CMP. “These grants invest in the people and systems that help outlets earn support from their communities, and that is what builds long-term sustainability.
What year one built and year two will fund
Newsroom Sustainability grants fund a specific revenue investment, such as a staff role or new technology, that helps an outlet grow advertising, sponsorship or membership income. The goal is for each investment to become self-sustaining within three years, so outlets can keep the role or system in place without CMP funding. These renewals cover the 2026-27 grant year.
Alamosa Citizen, $50,000. In year one, Alamosa Citizen hired its first membership coordinator and launched a membership rewards program with local merchants. Year two funds a second year of that position and a new part-time advertising role serving the San Luis Valley.
El Comercio de Colorado, $45,000. El Comercio launched a multimedia advertising sales hub and hired its first dedicated sales representative. Year two supports that representative as El Comercio expands advertising sales beyond the Denver metro area.
Boulder Reporting Lab, $30,000. Boulder Reporting Lab hired a part-time sponsorship and advertising lead, launched a weekly arts and culture newsletter that added new advertising space, built a professional media kit and upgraded its advertising platform. Year two helps it turn that part-time role into a full-time sales director to grow sponsorship and advertising revenue.
KHEN Community Radio, $30,000. KHEN hired an underwriting salesperson and brought in businesses that had never underwritten before, from auto shops to local authors. Year two supports its underwriting sales and grant writing so the station can sustain its newsroom through underwriting and grants.
Want to learn more about how you can support Colorado’s local news and information ecosystem and help ensure every Coloradan has access to the critical, locally relevant information they need? Contact Executive Director Kimberly Spencer at kimberly@coloradomediaproject.org.
