Community Impact Newspaper is a chain of hyperlocal monthly newspapers delivered for free to homes and businesses in Texas. John P. Garrett is the publisher. In January 2017, Community Impact Newspaper had 22 editions delivering to more than 1.7 million mailboxes in the Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
In September 2005, Community Impact Newspaper published by JG Media, Inc. launched its first edition in Round Rock | Pflugerville, Texas. There were six employees including the founder and publisher, John P. Garrett, and the company met in the game room in John’s house. Garrett was a former Advertising Director of the Austin Business Journal before he started Community Impact Newspaper.
In its first five years, Community Impact Newspaper experienced tremendous growth, adding about 60 employees and launching a total of 10 community newspapers including its first in the Houston Metro area in September 2009. In 2010, amidst heavy layoffs at newspapers and throughout the legacy media industry, Community Impact Newspaper made headlines with its publishing success, fast growth, and pushing the idea that "Print Ain't Dead." After expanding into the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area for the first time in March 2011, the media company's story was picked up by Editor & Publisher, CISION and CultureMap Austin.
In late 2012, Community Impact Newspaper announced plans to build a new $2.5 million headquarters in Pflugerville, TX, and the 16,000-square-foot building was completed in December 2013. John P. Garrett was featured in Forbes shortly after the announcement. In June 2015, Community Impact Newspaper announced it would invest in a new $10 million printing facility at its headquarters to begin printing all newspaper editions starting in 2016. Just eight months after the company's 10 year anniversary in September 2015, Community Impact Newspaper launched its 21st local newspaper edition. There are eight editions in the Austin metro, ten editions in the Houston metro and four editions the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. The company employs more than 175 "Impacters" in five offices throughout the state.
Community Impact Newspaper has received 106 awards for writing and design from the National Newspaper Association since 2007, including 16 Better Newspaper Contest awards in 2016. Community Impact Newspaper has also been named to Inc. Magazine's top 5000 fastest-growing companies for seven consecutive years, from 2011-2016.
Additionally, Community Impact Newspaper in 2016 opened a 136,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art printing facility adjacent to its headquarters in Pflugerville. Community Impact Printing, a $10 million press operation, prints all of the newspaper editions produced by Community Impact Newspaper staff. While the company is intensely focused on its quality print product, efforts to competitively expand daily news coverage online accelerated in 2016 with the hiring of Chief Content Officer David Arkin, who earlier was awarded Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association.
As of 2016 the following markets are being served with various individual editions:
Austin metro area including Travis County, Williamson County, and Hays County
Houston metro area including Brazoria County, Harris County, Fort Bend County and Montgomery County
Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex including Tarrant County, Collin County and Denton County
Specific, unique editions include:
In the Austin Metro
Central Austin (launched November 2008)
Northwest Austin (launched February 2007)
Southwest Austin (launched April 2008)
Georgetown (launched August 2007) in Georgetown, Hutto and Taylor; The paper began covering only Georgetown in January 2012
Lake Travis | Westlake (launched February 2010) in Westlake, Lakeway, Bee Cave and West Lake Hills and Rollingwood
Leander | Cedar Park (launched April 2006) in Cedar Park, Leander and Volente
Round Rock | Pflugerville | Hutto (launched September 2005) in Round Rock and Pflugerville; Hutto was added in January 2012
San Marcos | Buda | Kyle (launched May 2011) in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle
In the DFW Metro
Frisco (launched August 2013) in Frisco
Grapevine | Colleyville | Southlake (launched March 2011) in Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake
McKinney (launched April 2015) in McKinney
Plano (launched September 2014) in Plano
In the Houston metro
Conroe | Montgomery (launched April 2015) in Conroe and Montgomery
Cy-Fair (launched September 2009) in the Northwest Houston area of Cypress and Fairbanks
Katy (launched September 2012) in Katy
Lake Houston | Humble | Kingwood (launched May 2016) in area surrounding Lake Houston, including Humble and Kingwood
Pearland | Friendswood (launched December 2014) in Pearland and Friendswood
Richmond (launched October 2016) in Richmond
Spring | Klein (launched April 2014) in Spring and Klein
Sugar Land | Missouri City (launched September 2013) in Sugar Land and Missouri City
Tomball | Magnolia (launched October 2010) in Tomball and Magnolia
The Woodlands (launched September 2011) in The Woodlands
The newspaper is mailed to all households and businesses in the given area assuring widespread circulation. It is a non-subscription based newspaper and comes free in the mail each month.
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION — Community Impact Newspaper has been recognized 90 times for both outstanding journalism and advertising design by the National Newspaper Association's Better Newspaper Contest. Established in 1885, the NNA, a not-for-profit trade association, represents owners, publishers and editors of America’s community newspapers. Its mission is to protect, promote and enhance the nation’s local newspapers.
16 National Newspaper Association awards in 2016
17 National Newspaper Association awards in 2015
11 National Newspaper Association awards in 2014
9 National Newspaper Association awards in 2013
12 National Newspaper Association awards in 2012
11 National Newspaper Association awards in 2011
12 National Newspaper Association awards in 2010
11 National Newspaper Association awards in 2009
5 National Newspaper Association awards in 2008
2 National Newspaper Association awards in 2007
TEXAS SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION — 2016 Media Award
Publisher and founder John P. Garrett was recognized for founding 20 hyperlocal Texas newspapers that inform the public about education and are staffed with journalists who build a rapport with school district leaders.
FRISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Small Business of the Year 2014
The Small Business of the Year award was given to Community Impact Newspaper—Frisco edition for contributions to Frisco and the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and community during the year.
AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE —The KPMG Executive Leadership Award – John Garrett
The 2014 Greater Austin Business Awards, a competition organized by the Austin Chamber of Commerce to honor excellence in business in the Greater Austin region. The Executive Leadership Award recognizes presidents, principals or chief executive officers for devoting time and energy to strengthen and transform the organization they lead.
WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS (Texas Section of the American Water Works Association) — The Watermark Award for Media Excellence 2014
John Rigg, Sugar Land | Missouri City editor, was a 2014 recipient for his story, “Cities make plans to limit groundwater use.” This award recognizes Texas media who have raised the public’s level of understanding of water issues in Texas.
RECOGNIZE GOOD — Large Business of the Year 2014
Community Impact Newspaper was named large business of the year for 2014. Presented by RecognizeGood nonprofit organization, this Central Texas Ethics in Business and Community program annually honors organizations and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary ethical practices.
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL— John P. Garrett, Best CEO of 2013, Small Business
Austin Business Journal annually chooses one CEO from small, medium, large and nonprofit businesses as the best in the Austin area. Community Impact Newspaper founder and CEO John P. Garrett was named best small business CEO of 2013.
INC. 5000 — JG Media listed in fastest-growing private companies in America six consecutive years.
Very few of the nation’s companies have demonstrated such consistent high growth, particularly in the difficult economic environment of the past few years. In 2010, Inc. magazine named Community Impact Newspaper the fasting-growing media company in Texas.
ALLIANCE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION —“The Transie,” First Annual Transit Award Recipient 2012
Alliance for Public Transportation is a coalition of groups including the Austin Chamber, Real Estate Council of Austin and others who may not agree on the details around transit, but they do all agree we need more and better mass transit to help our transportation situation in Central Texas. Community Impact Newspaper received “The Transie,” transit award for its comprehensive and informative coverage of transportation in Central Texas.
LAKE TRAVIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Small Business of the Year 2012
The Small Business of the Year award was given to Community Impact Newspaper—Lake Travis/Westlake edition for contributions to Lake Travis and the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce and community during the year.
TEXAS CHISHOLM TRAIL CRIME PREVENTION ASSOCIATION —Outstanding Media Award 2011 Recipient — Grapevine | Colleyville | Southlake edition
The Outstanding Media Award, given to our Grapevine | Colleyville | Southlake edition by the Texas Chisholm Trail chapter of the Texas Crime Prevention Association, annually recognizes a media outlet for its commitment to coverage and education in the areas of public safety and crime prevention.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS — John P. Garrett, 2010 “Excellence in Leadership” — Gala Honoree
Concordia University Texas selected John P. Garrett, publisher of Community Impact Newspaper, as the 2010 “Excellence in Leadership” Gala honoree. The “Excellence in Leadership” Gala recognizes an outstanding Christian leader each year and raises money for the university’s annual scholarship fund. Past honorees have included Roger T. Staubach, executive chairman of The Staubach Company and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Austin business and community leader Tom Stacy, president of T. Stacy & Associates, and Texas Sen. Kirk Watson.
SILVER SPUR MEDIA AWARD 2010 RECIPIENT — John and Jennifer Garrett, Community Impact Newspaper
The Silver Spur Media Award recognizes contributions by a print or broadcast reporter/photographer/editor/producer or a print or broadcast outlet to a public affairs, public education or community relations program that benefitted the community and was also supported by professional public relations efforts. This award was given first in 1999 by the Texas Public Relations Association. Past recipients include: KHOU-TV Channel 11, News 8 Austin, WOAI Radio’s Morning Report, KXAN-TV and Dallas Morning News.
PFLUGERVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION — John Garrett, 2010 Distinguished Alumni — Excellence in Innovation
The foundation is committed to honoring and recognizing alumni of Pflugerville ISD for their professional achievements and service to the community. Each year awards are given in the categories of innovation, leadership, community service, rising star and achievement.
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY — John Garrett, Distinguished Alumni Award 2010
The award recognizes alumni under the age of 40 who have “distinguished themselves through personal and professional achievements and who have made significant contributions to SHSU and/or society, and thus have brought honor and distinction to our university.”
CY-FAIR HOUSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Small Business of the Year Award 2010 Recipient — Northwest Houston (Cy-Fair edition)The Small Business of the Year award, given to our Northwest Houston edition by the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, annually recognizes three outstanding local businesses in the small, medium and large business categories that have demonstrated exemplary growth and made a significant contribution to the Chamber and community in the past year.
AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL — Eighth Best Place to Work 2008
GREATER PFLUGERVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Business of the Year 2007
ROUND ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — Outstanding New Member 2005-2006
