JULY 2026 ● ISSUE #34 - FREE EDITION
FROM THE EDITOR
A Plan for the Journal
The Journal launched in October 2023 with more determination than infrastructure. Two and a half years and 700 subscribers later, that's starting to change. This spring, with support from a Hills & Hollows grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Journal undertook its first formal strategic planning process. The Journal has grown through the work of a small, dedicated team and this plan is the next step in making sure that work continues and deepens.
The process began with a community survey that drew 98 responses, a remarkable turnout that reflects how much this community cares about local information. From there, a public workshop in March and a private advisory workshop in April brought together residents, community leaders, and stakeholders to dig into what the Journal is, what it should become, and how to make it last. The process was facilitated by Abbey Harlow of Harlow Nonprofit Consulting.
What emerged is a four-pillar strategic plan built around organizational sustainability, financial diversification, product quality, and community engagement. The biggest structural goal is pursuing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which would open the door to grant funding, establish a governing board, and share responsibility across a broader team. Other priorities include formalizing editorial standards, developing a contributor pipeline, expanding readership to underrepresented audiences, and building new ways for residents to get involved.
Underlying all of it are trust principles the community named directly: stay factual, correct mistakes openly, declare conflicts of interest, and keep it local.
The full strategic plan is published at:
poultneyjournal.com/plan
Thank you to everyone who filled out the survey, attended a workshop, and contributed their time and thinking to this process. If you're reading the Journal for the first time, welcome and we'd love to have you along for what comes next.
Nic Stark
Editor, The Poultney Journal
Questions or interest in getting involved? Reach Nic at contact@poultneyjournal.com or 287-6723
