Impact Alamance is proud to announce a $125,000 grant to NC Local, a statewide nonprofit news organization, to launch a groundbreaking pilot news and information source for Alamance County. This initiative will serve as a first-of-its-kind model for NC Local in North Carolina.
The effort stems from growing concern over the lack of trusted, accessible local news — a concern that has been raised consistently by Alamance County residents during community listening sessions and research initiatives conducted by Impact Alamance, NC Local and other partners.
In 2024, Impact Alamance partnered with NC Local’s predecessor, Elon University’s NC Local News Workshop, to conduct a feasibility study examining the local news and information landscape in Alamance County. The study found strong community demand for a new credible, nonpartisan, digital local news source that could help residents better understand and engage with local issues. Participants highlighted that reliable information is essential for civic engagement and creating a more connected and informed public.
“This is about more than just delivering news — it’s about building civic trust, strengthening community connections, and ensuring every resident of Alamance County has access to the information they need to participate in local life,” said Tracey Grayzer, President of Impact Alamance. “We’ve listened to our community, and they’ve told us they want to feel proud of where they live — to be more connected and have better access to information about key issues in Alamance County,” she added. This grant to NC Local is our response to meeting that need.”
NC Local kicked off their work in Alamance County on Wednesday, November 5, with a community event held at Graham Presbyterian Church’s Community Life Center. The event featured a presentation by NC Local on their statewide local news movement and new initiative in Alamance County that will include a newsletter called The Alamance Fabric. The NC Local team introduced their plans to help North Carolinians stay connected to news and information about state government decisions and statewide issues, and explained their collaborative model with communities and newsrooms across the state.
The event provided attendees with a chance to learn more from NC Local, while also allowing NC Local to learn from those in the audience about what they are looking for from a local news source.
The nonprofit will be releasing information in the coming weeks about a community-led advisory board, dedicated local staff and local partnership opportunities for The Alamance Fabric.
Why NC Local?
Impact Alamance chose NC Local for this work because of its deep experience in supporting community-centered journalism and its innovative approach to building news ecosystems that serve all residents.
NC Local was founded by media leader Shannan Bowen and builds on the strong foundation of the NC Local News Workshop, which had been based at Elon University’s School of Communications since 2020 with the mission of connecting, convening and supporting journalists and news organizations across the state.
In early 2025, NC Local evolved from the Workshop as an independent nonprofit newsroom that is uniquely positioned to support new models for local news that are rooted in community engagement, impartiality and sustainability. Its mission — to help all North Carolinians stay informed, understand local impacts, and engage in the decisions shaping their futures — directly aligns with the goals of this initiative.
With a track record of content strategy, collaboration, and innovation, NC Local brings the infrastructure, tools, and vision needed to pilot a new kind of local news source — one that reflects the voices, values, and needs of Alamance County. This partnership marks the organization’s first pilot of a community-specific news product, making Alamance County a leader in shaping the future of local journalism in North Carolina.
“NC Local understands that community trust is built on ongoing listening and engagement,” said Shannan Bowen, Founder and CEO of NC Local. “Our model prioritizes open feedback with residents, building partnerships, and creating journalism that strengthens civic life.”
Sign up to receive The Alamance Fabric newsletter here: The Alamance Fabric – NCLocal
