National Trust for Local News Acquires Five Vermont Newspapers, Expanding Regional Holdings
The National Trust for Local News, a nonprofit organization that owns the Portland Press Herald and numerous other newspapers across Maine, Georgia, and California, is set to acquire five weekly newspapers in Vermont. The deal, which will close this month, involves the purchase of the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, which publishes The Stowe Reporter, News & Citizen, The Other Paper, The Citizen, and Shelburne News. The owners of the Vermont Community Newspaper Group are selling the company for a nominal fee, citing increased financial pressures. All 15 full-time and two part-time employees of the Vermont Community Newspaper Group will retain their positions. This acquisition marks an expansion for the National Trust, which will now own newspapers in four states. The Trust's model involves raising funds through donations and grants to acquire and invest in news organizations, aiming for them to become self-sustaining through subscriptions, advertising, and events. 
