As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, will relaunch as the InCIder in mid-October.
“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”
The InCIder program currently gives donors access to a special Saturday email edition across each metro: Austin, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.
“We take the week’s best performing or especially unique content from each metro to include in the InCIder email,” Vice President of Digital Marie Leonard said. “People might live in one community and work in another, or their family might live elsewhere, so we want to provide information about the whole region.”
Additionally, the refreshed InCIder program offers members unique opportunities to engage more closely with Community Impact through events and surveys.
“We’re trying to have less of a brick wall between us and our readers,” Leonard said.
Announcing the company’s first InCIder Hour
As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.
The event will take place November 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.
Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by CEO John Garrett.
The evening will also include a printing plant tour, raffle prize, appetizers and refreshments.
“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”
Membership pricing
Memberships are currently $10 per month or $110 annually. A membership will include the previously mentioned perks, as well as:
- Quarterly discounts at local businesses
- Optional naming and “thank you” in our email/newspaper
- Digital membership badge
- Community Impact swag
- InCIder anniversary gift
- Annual "Your Impact" reports
“This support allows us to expand across the state and add more reporters in the future,” she said.
Garrett added that the program also reflects the company’s long-term vision.
“By strengthening this program, we can invest more resources into high-quality reporting and continue moving toward our broader vision—building informed, connected communities across Texas,” Garrett said.
To view membership details and to become an InCIder, click here.
To RSVP for the InCIder Hour, click here.
