Why did I launch Future Tides? To close a gap that I observed in the local and maritime media landscape. To serve the ever-evolving maritime community.

Now Press Forward, a $500 million nationwide movement to strengthen local newsrooms, has awarded Future Tides a $100,000 grant to support our mission.

It is an honor to be among the 205 small local newsrooms selected in this round of historic funding. And among the seven local news outlets serving communities in Oregon and Washington.

With $50,000 in funding each year, for the next two years, Future Tides' coverage, operations and, of course, tours will expand in pursuit of my vision to create a journalistic pillar at the center of a more collaborative, sustainable and equitable maritime community.

How Future Tides does this

Across the lakes, Salish Sea and Pacific coast, thousands of people share these waterways.

Future Tides serves recreational boaters and those working in various sectors of the maritime industry such as boat building, commercial fishing, workforce development, and at related nonprofits. We also aim to serve early and mid-career maritime professionals, boaters curious about the environment and new technologies, first-generation mariners, and local residents interested in getting on the water.

Future Tides focuses on coverage gaps, rather than pursuing stories well covered by other outlets. Here are some other key ways Future Tides is different:

• Digital first. Future Tides is a digital-first publication focused on delivering news to your inbox and social media feed in a mobile-friendly format.
• Accessible. There is no cost to access Future Tides content and you don't need to be an expert to understand our coverage. We value curiosity, lifelong learning, and a shared sense of discovery.
• Audience-centered. The service Future Tides provides must be valuable to our audience. To accomplish this, listening is paramount. Your questions and ideas guide Future Tides' coverage.
• Unique. The gap I observed is also Future Tides' strength. Instead of reporting on what's already been covered, we use our resources to focus on stories and voices not always found in other outlets.
• Innovative. The exchange of knowledge and information can happen in many different ways — and we are testing new approaches! Like free walking tours or interactive maps.

The Press Forward grant application process brought a lot of these ideas to the forefront. It asked about the specific information gaps Future Tides fills, and how we provide accessible, local, community-focused journalism.

It also asked for letters of support, here's what two community members had to say:

Our future

There is a massive opportunity to expand Future Tides’ reporting and editorial impact. The intricacies of our public ports, the distribution of once-in-a-generation infrastructure funding, and the effectiveness of high-profile equity initiatives all call for greater accountability reporting. Major global trends such as AI, de-carbonization, and a changing workforce are also impacting our local maritime community, but aren’t well understood or documented.

New policies are being weighed and advanced with implications for commerce, the environment, economic development and public resources. They will shape what the next generation of Pacific Northwest mariners experience, but not everyone is even aware or part of the process. There is also the challenge of climate change, how we reduce the industry’s environmental impacts and how navigation, fishing, and boats are forever changed by this era.

This grant funding comes at a key moment in Future Tides' journey — a journey that I hope you'll be part of.

Your engagement is essential

I can't do this work alone, and that wouldn't be very fun at all! Here are seven ways you can help shape Future Tides:

1. Email me a question about recent maritime news or something you've always wondered.
2. Chime in when you see a question, poll or survey — I want to hear from you!
3. Subscribe to Future Tides email newsletter to get new articles in your inbox.
4. Send a tip about maritime news, local issues or other hot topics you think should be covered.
5. Follow Future Tides on Instagram to catch our stories plus community news.
6. Attend a walking tour in 2025 (check back in spring for dates!)
7. Let others know that Future Tides exists, and that we want their input too.

Thank you

Like I said, I can't do this alone so I want to sincerely thank:

• Future Tides' current Crew Members (jump on board!) for supporting an independent news organization dedicated to YOU — the Pacific Northwest maritime community.
• My friends for humoring my boat obsession and sharing news tips
• My parents for supporting another off-the-beaten path adventure (and my mom for copy editing my grant applications!)
• And my husband Andrew for fueling me with encouragement and meals during countless early mornings, late evenings and weekends working my "second shift."

Stay tuned...much more to come!

— Cara