The end of June marked another important milestone for Mainstreet Daily News: Two full years in print as a weekly newspaper. Today, Mainstreet is the most widely circulated newspaper in North Central Florida, with 10,000 copies distributed around Alachua County.  

Our small team has worked hard to consistently deliver street-level reporting on Gainesville and the surrounding area for more than four years now, but the last two have brought new challenges due to the complexities of print. Led by Senior Editor C.J. Gish and Ad Production Manager Janalyn Peppel, our editorial and sales teams have aced the test.  

You’ve probably noticed that we often print 16 pages now—a trend driven by advertising growth. We are grateful to the many businesses and other entities partnering with Mainstreet to reach locals, and we love hearing their success stories. 

On the content front, Mainstreet has broken news related to numerous significant stories. Here are some examples just from the last six months:

• Details of the surgical shutdown at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital 

• Backstory to the abrupt departure of Gainesville’s police chief 

• Context for UF’s decision to fire its former water polo coach 

• Plans for a new school for competitive academics 

These stories and more have made an impact in the community.  

We recently learned that four of Mainstreet’s 2023 stories are finalists for statewide awards (we’ll find out details at the Florida Media Conference later this month). That recognition is rewarding, but even more gratifying is the appreciation we hear from readers every day.  

Here’s what two recent new members had to say:   

“I think you folks are doing a great job. I became a member to show my support for your efforts to maintain active local journalism centered in Gainesville. You’ve achieved a great deal in a short period of time.” 

“I live in Virginia and haven’t been in Gainesville for two decades, but I appreciate you guys’ efforts at on-the-ground-level journalism and wanted to support your cause.” 

Mainstreet membership comes with some great perks, but the best one is knowing that you’re helping build a stronger community. That’s not an embellishment: Research has shown that cities with a strong local newspaper have less corruption and lower municipal borrowing costs than those who do not.  

If you want to take a stand for independent local news, click here to join now—and help us launch into our third year in print on strong footing.