Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) has been awarded a $40,000 grant from Press Forward Minnesota to expand its reporting on economic developments and their impact on Eden Prairie’s diverse communities. The grant was announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The funding will allow EPLN to hire a full-time reporter to cover new commercial developments, city governance, and the evolving business landscape. Special emphasis will be placed on covering issues affecting Somali and South Asian residents.
“We are grateful to Press Forward Minnesota for their support!” said Steve Schewe, publisher of EPLN. “A full-time reporter dedicated to reporting the dynamic interplay of new commercial developments, city governance, and the evolving business community, with a particular emphasis on the impact on diverse communities in Eden Prairie, would fill a critical gap in our coverage.”
Schewe added that the expanded coverage would deepen EPLN’s engagement with underrepresented groups and build trust and readership among South Asian and Somali residents.
“This expanded coverage would build trust and readership among these populations and position EPLN as a more inclusive and indispensable resource for Eden Prairie,” he said.
Press Forward Minnesota, part of a newly launched national movement to reinvigorate local news, awarded $520,000 in grants to 13 news organizations across the state. Each grantee received a one-year $40,000 grant to support hyperlocal journalism for communities of color, linguistically diverse groups, low-wealth rural areas, and other underrepresented populations.
“We are incredibly excited to support these outstanding organizations that are vital to the health and well-being of their communities,” said May Yang, senior manager of policy and partnerships at the Minnesota Council on Foundations, who serves as the staff lead for Press Forward Minnesota. “These grants will help them expand their reach, innovate their reporting, and better serve their audiences.”
Other recipients include Access Press, which focuses on issues affecting Minnesota’s disability community, and Mshale Communications, which amplifies African immigrant voices. BLCK Press and the Hmong Broadcasting Company were also selected for their efforts to serve historically underrepresented communities.
“These organizations are providing a vital service, helping to inform and connect diverse communities that have been affected by the local news crisis,” said Tim Murphy, program officer at the McKnight Foundation. “At the same time, we know local journalism needs more support from more funders, businesses, and readers alike to match the scale of the challenge. We look forward to building on this important first step to strengthen a local news ecosystem that serves all Minnesotans.”
Press Forward Minnesota works to fill gaps in local journalism and provide Minnesotans with reliable, community-focused news. Its funding partners include McKnight Foundation, Bush Foundation, Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group, the MacArthur Foundation, and Taylor Family Farms Foundation.
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