The Current has been awarded $170,000 in funding from The Emerson Collective, a philanthropic organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, to build capacity at Georgia’s only nonprofit investigative newsroom.

The Savannah-based newsroom is one of nine nonprofit media organizations selected by the foundation to boost independent local news across America. “The support from this prestigious organization shows the confidence it has in our team and our reporting,” said Editor in Chief Margaret Coker. “This is quite an honor for our two-year old investigative newsroom.”

Emerson’s financial support will be provided over two years. The foundation will also advise The Current on business development. However, like all donations, the Emerson Collective’s funding will not influence The Current’s news coverage.