• by Ray Schultz , February 27, 2025

A nonprofit newsroom is being launched in North Carolina thanks to a $1.5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

NC Local, an independent statewide hub for news, has its origin in the NC Local News Workshop, which has served journalists in the state since 2020. 

“The Knight Foundation’s investment allows us to take everything we’ve learned from the NC Local News Workshop and build something that meets the needs of both communities and our news partners—scaling access to local journalism across the state,” says Shannan Bowen, founder and CEO of NC Local.

“This is about strengthening what already makes North Carolina’s news landscape special and making sure more people have access to the information they need to stay informed and engaged,” Bowen adds.

NC Local is also receiving funding from other philanthropy organizations, including Arnold Ventures.

The news hub's first major project is the WNC Housing Guide, a free resource focusing on renters’ rights, home repair and rebuilding after the destruction of Hurricane Helene.