An intriguing new approach to saving local newspapers is percolating in Aurora, Colorado.

The Sentinel, a strong weekly with daily email newsletters, was acquired this month by a holding company that’s pursuing a Green Bay Packers-style model of community ownership, with shares sold to residents and supporters.

The goal is to have local owners save an essential local news source, and perhaps create an approach other communities can use to save their newspapers.

Dave Perry, The Sentinel’s longtime editor, said the Packers model “is perfect for Aurora.”

“This is not a rich place by any means but people are incredibly generous and dedicated,” he said.

That showed when the paper, which has 12,000 subscribers and 480,000 monthly page views, sought additional support as its business struggled in recent years.