Grice Connect Secures $100,000 Challenge Grant to Enhance Local News Coverage

Grice Connect, a respected local news platform, has announced the receipt of a $100,000 challenge grant awarded by Press Forward. This grant is a part of a nationwide initiative aimed at reinforcing communities through robust local news coverage. The funding is intended to help Grice Connect bolster its financial sustainability and expand its news coverage within the region.

Press Forward is a national movement focused on revitalizing local news and information to strengthen democracy. The coalition of funders behind Press Forward has committed more than $500 million to support local newsrooms, fill journalistic gaps, enhance public policy for better news access, and develop the infrastructure necessary for news organizations to thrive.

Since 2019, Grice Connect has been dedicated to keeping the residents of Statesboro and Bulloch County informed, notably assisting over 60,000 people during hurricanes Helene and Debby. H. DeWayne Grice, the Founder and Publisher of Grice Connect, stated, “Our team strives to keep our community informed and engaged with news and information that matters most.”

The $100,000 funding places Grice Connect among five Georgia-based newsrooms that are part of the 205 small, local news outlets across the United States receiving a portion of a $20 million fund by Press Forward. Acknowledging the broad caliber of submitted proposals, Press Forward expanded its grant offerings, allowing twice as many recipients as initially planned. This directly benefited from over 900 applications received nationwide.

Angela Anglin, director of Press Forward, explained that this inaugural round of funding focused on supporting smaller newsrooms operating on budgets under $1 million. “We prioritized news organizations that deliver news to underserved communities like communities of color and rural areas,” Anglin noted in a discussion about the initiative’s impact.

The funding provides general operating support, granting recipients the flexibility to allocate resources as needed, which grantees indicate will significantly impact their operational capacities. Grice Connect plans to meet a reader revenue goal, urging community members to contribute to sustaining this crucial work.

Grice Connect’s invitation to support this local news effort comes with a hope that 400 of its over 30,000 subscribers will donate $10 monthly by November 15, 2024, to meet the $4,000 monthly challenge subsidy requirement. “This grant means national funders are investing not just in Grice Connect, but ultimately in Southeast Georgia,” said Grice.