In May 2010 Access Press will commemorate its two decades of providing news and information to Minnesota’s disability and elder communities. We are planning a special section that month. We want you to be a part of that celebration and to help us start the next 20 years.

Through its print edition and Web site, Access Press is a voice and face of Minnesotans with disabilities. We cover key issues of importance to the disability community. We provide information on a wide range of upcoming events, as well as news from around the region and news about people and places in our community.

Each month, we print more than 11,000 newspapers. These newspapers are distributed to more than 300 Minneapolis-St. Paul metro locations. We also distribute papers to 13 other Minnesota and North Dakota locations including; Duluth, East Grand Forks, Fargo, Hibbing, Mankato, Marshall, Rochester, St. Cloud and Willmar.

Access Press has a broad reach across the state. But our reach goes far beyond Minnesota.  Approximately 500 subscribers, all across the country, receive a print edition of the paper in the mail. Because readers routinely share copies of the paper, the total Access Press readership is at least three times the printed circulation, probably more. Our Web presence expands our readership even further; our Web site visits (www.testing.accesspress.org) average 2,500 hits per month. These numbers are growing and we want you to benefit with us as they do.

But we need your support to continue making this publication possible. It’s no secret that this has been a very difficult economic time for all print news media. Access Press is no exception. Many of the Twin Cities’ urban neighborhoods, suburban and ethnic community newspapers have reduced staff or even stopped production. Although, with your past support, Access Press is in a fairly solid position financially, we need your continued support to maintain financial stability and we will continue to bring you the news and information you depend on.

How can you help and get involved in supporting and celebrating 20 years of quality community journalism? There are many ways:

• Donate. Our individual sponsorship levels are spelled out on the back page of every issue and on our donor Web page. All support of more than $30 per year is tax-deductible. We accept financial donations as well as in-kind donations of goods and service.

• We welcome Issue Sponsors. For a small fee a business or organization can enjoy long-term recognition and visibility as an Access Press issue sponsor. Issue sponsors are also recognized in both the print newspaper and Web editions.  

Sponsoring organizations got more visibility for their activities in the community. Access Press increases its revenue, allowing us to continue our mission of disseminating news and features of interest to Minnesota’s disability community.

The sponsor organization or business’s name/logo and organization profile will be strategically placed on the back page of the sponsored issue or issues, as well as on the Access Press Web site on the issue month as a banner display. A profile of the sponsor organization will appear on page 4 of the sponsored issue, in a highlighted ad.

Why not plan issue sponsorship in conjunction with your organization’s major annual event and gain a highlighted box in our Calendar of Events that month?

Beyond the month or months of direct sponsorship, sponsors, will have ongoing recognition, in print and online, as sponsor Organization will have ongoing (monthly) visibility by being listed as one of the key sponsors of Access Press.

• Support our advertisers. When you do business with our advertisers, let them know how much you appreciate their support of Access Press. And if a business or organization you rely on doesn’t advertise in Access Press, tell them about us. Tell us about them. It’s a win, win situation

• Be a part of the 20th anniversary issue. The May 2010 issue is a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of Minnesota’s disability community, as chronicled in our pages. We encourage businesses, organizations and elected officials to purchase advertising celebrating this event with us. We also invite readers to go to our Web site or mail us their stories of how the newspaper has helped them over the years. These testimonials will show the power of the printed word in helping making change in our community. We’re looking forward to hearing your stories!