As previously announced, BlogPac is working on a project to bring community blogging to every state. Community blogs (and the communities they create) will make the difference in '08. But they can also make a difference now, influencing policy on a state and local level.
One of the things we've heard is that money is a problem. Sites on blogspot are free, but growing into your own domain name and software like Soapblox or Scoop takes money. Soapblox sites, for example, start at $15/month. Which sounds affordable to some, but is a big stumbling block to others. Without a popular site going already, you can't get the ad revenue to pay those fees. It's a chicken and egg problem.
We're trying to help.
So.. BlogPac will be offering a series of grants to community blogs to help cover those fees (one year of hosting, ie. $180, will be the standard amount).
We are pleased to announce our first round of grants. BlogPac will be supporting
California: Calitics
Colorado: SquareState
Massachusetts: Blue Mass Group
Michigan: Michigan Liberal
Minnesota: Minnesota Campaign Report
Montana: Left In The West
New Hampshire: Blue Hampshire
New Jersey: Blue Jersey
New York: The Albany Project
North Carolina: BlueNC
Texas: Burnt Orange Report
Virginia: Raising Kaine
If you value the work they're doing and want to support them, donate to BlogPac today.
Here's the eligibility requirements for all applicant blogs:
- Must have a lefty political orientation
- Must have mostly state-based content, not just city or region
- Must be mostly political content
- Must allow diaries as well as comments
- Must be independent - not a part of an existing political group ie. candidate or official campaign, state party, union, caucus, College Dem chapter etc.
If you'd like to apply for a future grant, please contact BlogPac. The next round of grants will be announced soon.
If you're interested in starting up a new state-based blog or switching over an existing blog to a community-based platform, please contact Laura for additional help. Another resource for state and local bloggers is the "Blogs United" group run by Kid Oakland.
