Sopris Sun, LLC

What Sopris Sun, LLC does

Sopris Sun, LLC operates The Sopris Sun, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit weekly community newspaper founded in February 2009 in Carbondale, Colorado, in response to the closure of the Valley Journal. The publication distributes 3,500 print copies every Thursday to approximately 80 newsstand locations spanning the Roaring Fork Valley from Glenwood Springs to Woody Creek and Carbondale to Marble, and operates a WordPress-based digital property at soprissun.com with e-editions on Issuu. It also publishes el Sol del Valle, a Spanish-language sister newspaper serving the Latino community across Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle. Core editorial coverage spans local government, environment, arts and entertainment, business, education, nonprofits, sports, obituaries, and opinion.

The organization runs on a small staff of roughly 1-10 employees supplemented by volunteers, photographers, translators, a contributing editor, lead editorial designer, and a dedicated delivery person. Supporting programmatic lines include the Youth Journalism Program for high school students, a Community Calendar powered by Yodel Events, and an online merchandise shop via Spreadshirt. The technology stack is conventional publishing infrastructure: WordPress CMS, Issuu e-edition hosting, Constant Contact for newsletters, Kindful for donation processing, and integrations with regional media partners for Spanish-language content sharing.

Revenue is generated through a roughly 70/30 mix of advertising and sponsorships to donations and grants, with no reader paywall. Distribution is free to readers and supported by individual donors (including Honorary Publishers contributing $1,000+ annually), foundation grants, local SMB advertising, and passive giving via the City Market/King Soopers Community Rewards loyalty program. Memberships in the Colorado Press Association, Institute for Nonprofit News, LION Publishers, and the Colorado News Collaborative underpin editorial standards and credibility.

Name

Sopris Sun, LLC

Legal name

The Sopris Sun LLC

Website

https://soprissun.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sopris Sun, LLC is a Carbondale, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes The Sopris Sun, a free weekly community newspaper, and el Sol del Valle, a Spanish-language sister paper, serving readers and local advertisers across the Roaring Fork Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Newspaper Publishing

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Community newspaper publishing
• Local journalism services
• Bilingual news media
• Nonprofit news publisher
• Spanish-language journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Carbondale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorships: Approximately 70% of annual budget comes from advertising sales and sponsorships. Business advertising and sponsorship packages offered to local businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley.
2. Donations and Grants: Approximately 30% of annual budget comes from individual donations and grants. Accepts monthly or one-time gifts, with special recognition for donors contributing $1,000+ annually (Honorary Publishers).
3. City Market Community Rewards: Participates in City Market/King Soopers Community Rewards program where shoppers can link their card to generate donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sopris Sun, LLC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes a weekly community newspaper—The Sopris Sun (English) and el Sol del Valle (Spanish)—covering local news, government, environment, arts, business, education, nonprofits, sports, and opinion for the Roaring Fork Valley. Approximately 3,500 print copies are distributed weekly to 80+ newsstand and retail locations from Glenwood Springs to Woody Creek and Carbondale to Marble, with identical content available online via soprissun.com and Issuu. Revenue is generated primarily through advertising, sponsorships, individual donations, grants, and the City Market/King Soopers Community Rewards program.

Product overview

The Sopris Sun operates as a nonprofit community newspaper organization offering two main print and digital publications—The Sopris Sun (English) and el Sol del Valle (Spanish)—alongside supporting programs. The core newspapers are distributed weekly in print to approximately 80 locations and available online, covering local news across categories including government, environment, arts, business, education, nonprofits, and sports. The Youth Journalism Program provides an educational component where high school students can learn journalism skills and get published. Additional offerings include a community calendar and an e-commerce shop for branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sol del Valle: Bilingual Spanish-language newspaper serving the Latino community in the Roaring Fork Valley, covering news from Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Rifle CO

Products and services

• The Sopris Sun Weekly Newspaper Community newspaper published weekly every Thursday, distributed in print to approximately 80 locations across the Roaring Fork Valley and available online at soprissun.com and via Issuu e-edition. Covers local news, government, environment, arts, business, education, nonprofits, sports, obituaries, and opinion content for Carbondale and surrounding areas. Free to readers with no paywall.
• el Sol del Valle (Bilingual Spanish-Language Newspaper) Spanish-language community newspaper serving the Latino community in the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Rifle and surrounding Colorado areas), published alongside The Sopris Sun with shared staff and distribution channels. Founding member of the Colorado West Spanish News Collaborative.
• Advertising & Sponsorship Services Print and digital advertising and sponsorship packages sold to local small and medium businesses, civic organizations, and event sponsors in the Roaring Fork Valley, providing visibility across the weekly print edition, website, and bilingual publications.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado West Spanish News CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative of Spanish-language news outlets including Post Independent, LA Tricolor, KDNK, Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News, and Aspen Public Radio working together to provide Spanish-language coverage of western Colorado. The Sopris Sun's Sol del Valle is a founding member of this collaborative.
• Colorado Press AssociationcoreOthersMembership organization providing journalistic standards, training, and industry support. The Sopris Sun adheres to CPA standards as part of membership.
• Institute for Nonprofit News (INN)coreOthersMembership organization for nonprofit news organizations. The Sopris Sun subscribes to INN's standards of editorial independence.
• LION PublisherscoreOthersMembership organization for local independent online news publishers supporting sustainability and growth.
• Colorado News CollaborativeminorOthersNews collaborative connecting local and statewide news coverage for Colorado communities.
• Aspen Public RadiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal radio station partnership for content sharing and cross-promotion of community news.
• The Colorado SunminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContent sharing partnership where The Colorado Sun provides Spanish-language content to Sol del Valle.
• Aspen Daily NewsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContent sharing partnership providing Spanish-language content to Sol del Valle.
• Post IndependentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContent sharing partnership providing Spanish-language content to Sol del Valle.
• Chalkbeat ColoradominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducation-focused news partnership providing content to Sol del Valle.
• City Market/King Soopers Community RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery rewards program allowing shoppers to support The Sopris Sun through their everyday purchases by linking their loyalty card.
• Third Street CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared office space provider in Carbondale where The Sopris Sun's office is located, fostering community among local nonprofits and organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aspen Daily News: Local daily newspaper serving Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley with overlapping coverage territory and direct competition for local advertising dollars and reader attention.
• Aspen Journalism: Local nonprofit investigative journalism outlet serving the Roaring Fork Valley with overlapping mission, donor base, and coverage territory; staff writer Amy Hadden Marsh writes for both.
• Aspen Times: Daily newspaper serving Aspen and surrounding communities with broader reach and stronger digital platform, competing for the same affluent reader base.
• The Colorado Sun: Statewide nonprofit news organization with similar editorial independence model and content-sharing partnership through Sol del Valle; comparable nonprofit structure and donor-funded revenue model.
• Glenwood Springs Post Independent: Regional newspaper serving Garfield County including Glenwood Springs, with overlapping coverage area and active content-sharing partnership with Sopris Sun's Sol del Valle.

Emerging players

• High Country News: Nonprofit news organization covering the Western United States with a similar donor-supported, mission-driven model and rural community journalism focus, though at much larger scale.
• KDNK Community Radio: Carbondale-based nonprofit community radio station with overlapping staff (former Sopris Sun editor) and shared local journalism mission; complementary rather than competitive local media outlet.

Regional players

• Vail Daily: Daily newspaper serving Vail and Eagle County with similar mountain-community reader demographics and local advertising model; does not directly compete but operates a comparable business in an adjacent valley.
• Steamboat Pilot & Today: Daily newspaper serving Steamboat Springs and Routt County with comparable mountain-town audience and mixed print/digital local news model in another Colorado resort region.
• Telluride Daily Planet: Daily newspaper serving Telluride and San Miguel County with similar small-town resort community dynamics and local advertising-dependent revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/soprissun
• Instagraminstagram.com/soprissun
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sopris-sun-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sopris Sun, LLC