Our purpose is to provide news, arts and feature coverage to nine villages and towns in Western Massachusetts. Our paper provides an important community service, supported by and operating for the benefit of the communities we cover: the five villages of Montague, and the towns of Erving, Gill, Leverett, and Wendell, communities with a vibrant history and engaged citizens. This specific project would allow us to expand and focus our features and news coverage on environmental issues and challenges facing our communities, most of which also face economic challenges. In covering local environmental issues, we raise awareness of the intersections between health and wellbeing of the environment and human beings; and between environmental and economic justice. We believe that the sort of journalism we practice -- hyperlocal, accessible, and in-depth -- is essential in empowering local residents to build sustainable communities.