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Small and rural TV and radio stations are facing serious financial trouble after Congress rescinded Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding — and WTIP North Shore Community Radio is no exception. 

Federal cuts resulted in a 25 percent budget deficit for the broadcaster, which was the brainchild of a kitchen table discussion in 1998. The Grand Marais-based outlet already relies heavily on volunteer hosts, employing just eight full-time employees and four part-timers. 

Katie Belanger, WTIP’s development director, is tasked with figuring out what’s next and rallying support from the public to get the station back in the black. 

“CPB funding was a huge part of our overall plan, and so this is a very serious cut back, and it's something that we had anticipated after the election, but we were certainly hoping it wouldn't come to pass,” she said Tuesday. “This is a resource that we really need in Cook County. It's not just about the eclectic programming. It's also about our emergency alert systems and the ways that we communicate about what's happening on a very local level.” 

Belanger joined MPR News Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer in Grand Marais to talk about the impacts of funding losses and her plan for a bounce back. 

Listen to the conversation by clicking the player button above.

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Katie Belanger, WTIP’s development director, is tasked with figuring out what’s next and rallying support from the public to get the station back in the black. 


QA WTIP funding threat with Katie Belanger 

Small stations hit hard: WTIP in Grand Marais lays out effects of federal funding cuts

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