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Local Civic Journalism Awards is sponsored by Vermont Secretary of State's Office and Vermont Community Foundation (Press Forward Vermont). This program provides financial support to news outlets that bolster civic engagement and focus primarily on local news in Vermont. It is a partnership between the state and the Vermont Community Foundation's Press Forward Vermont initiative.
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Vermont News Outlets Receive $100,000 Through Inaugural Local Civic Journalism Awards - Vermont Community Foundation Vermont News Outlets Receive $100,000 Through Inaugural Local Civic Journalism Awards Photo credit: Gordon Miller / Waterbury Roundabout Sixteen Vermont news organizations have been honored with the Local Civic Journalism Awards, a new program designed to steer state and philanthropic dollars to news outlets that inform Vermonters and foster civic engagement.
The recipients represent a broad cross-section of local and regional news organizations—including newspapers that have served their communities for well over a century and digital-only enterprises that have sprung up in recent years to fill a void. They include nonprofit and for-profit entities and are mostly locally controlled.
Many of the recipients are based in regions of the state that are otherwise underserved, including the Northeast Kingdom, southern Vermont and the Upper Valley. Each Local Civic Journalism Award-winner will receive $5,000 or $10,000 to further their existing mission. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, whose office administers the awards, noted that a robust press corps is vital to civic engagement.
“In order for Vermonters to be able to work together to shape and improve their communities, it’s essential to have access to trustworthy, transparent local news outlets,” Hanzas said. “An investment in Vermont’s local and regional news is an investment in an informed, connected and engaged citizenry. ” The awards were envisioned by Sen.
Andrew Perchlik, who secured $50,000 in funding for the program in the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The Vermont Community Foundation, through its Press Forward Vermont chapter, then matched the state funding with another $50,000. “I am so excited to see these civic journalism awards help to strengthen our civic fabric,” Perchlik said.
“The growing attention paid to the critical value of local, fact-based journalism gives me hope for our democracy. ” The awards drew significant interest from around the state. More than 30 different news outlets were nominated.
To ensure the selection process remained free from political interference, the statute authorizing the Local Civic Journalism Awards called for an independent panel to make all funding decisions. That panel, convened by the University of Vermont’s Center for Community News, included current and former journalists, as well as academics—none of whom could be employed by award nominees.
The panelists opted to award $10,000 to four news organizations that have particularly distinguished themselves in recent years by reimagining the way they foster civic engagement in their respective communities and sustain themselves for the future.
They include: Vermont Independent Media ( The Commons , Deerfield Valley News ), Brattleboro Waterbury Roundabout , Waterbury White River Valley Herald , Randolph The panel also chose to award $5,000 to a dozen news organizations that provide essential coverage to their communities. They include: Addison County Independent , Middlebury Barton Chronicle , Barton Caledonian-Record , St.
Johnsbury Chester Telegraph , Chester Hardwick Gazette , Hardwick Hinesburg Record , Hinesburg Journal-Opinion , Bradford North Star Monthly , Danville Valley News , West Lebanon, N. H.
Valley Reporter , Waitsfield Vermont Community Newspaper Group ( Stowe Reporter , News & Citizen , The Other Paper , The Citizen , Shelburne News ), Stowe Radio Vermont Group ( WDEV ), Waterbury Paul Heintz, a senior adviser to the Center for Community News, convened the selection panel. Award recipients will be honored at the Statehouse this winter. High-quality information is an essential ingredient for dialogue and decision-making.
Local journalism helps us engage in informed civil discourse. People who follow local news have increased rates of voting, and a greater sense of influence and attachment to their communities. Is this a topic you care deeply about?
Democracy, Trust, and Community Leadership
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Open to all professional news organizations that cover Vermont, regardless of medium, business model, or ownership, and provide factual information that might not otherwise be available. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $5,000 - $10,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
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Farm to School Implementation Grant is sponsored by USDA Food and Nutrition Service. This program aims to increase the availability of local foods in schools and connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Projects should incorporate both local sourcing and agricultural education efforts.
The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.
Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC) is a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides state tax credit allocations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, enabling them to attract private donations from individuals and businesses. Donors contributing $500 or more to approved projects receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects statewide. Eligible project areas include education, housing, job training, arts and culture, economic development, and services for at-risk populations. Projects must be located in or serve residents of Maryland's Priority Funding Areas. The application period is typically held annually.