diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index e18ee07..b985ff6 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "0.0.0"
+  ".": "0.0.1"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9297cb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# Changelog
+
+## 0.0.1 (2026-03-08)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* add automerge workflow for PRs ([#3](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/issues/3)) ([2be3c12](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/2be3c12f14d2fbd10bc2258752749c613698a336))
+* initial NATS transport implementation ([a045242](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/a045242c3dea59a5d1a963da0a110d1453bb88fd))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* add packages:read permission for GitHub Packages auth ([4b1bd37](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/4b1bd37a49856a0e4f42aaeab7174a44af7f944d))
+* **ci:** add job name to match required status check ([#6](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/issues/6)) ([5f264e4](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/5f264e4e1e8877f564ba56634c4bd451e5518416))
+* configure GitHub Packages registry and generate lockfile ([beeb8e8](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/beeb8e835141813f0942854bd0d6b582f6a23486))
+* replace broken NATS health check with port wait step ([#8](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/issues/8)) ([0900390](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/09003906abbfffb7b82aa44368e58f5b005431c0))
+* review gate allows owner PRs, requires approval for others ([0b6eae3](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/0b6eae3f92c9b2795406d0d6771bbb4da783d68e))
+* set release-as 0.0.1 for initial release ([f866758](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/f866758c02e204574bf7a08d07f6576c2eed3712))
+* update npm package name to match org ([#2](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/issues/2)) ([c0a7863](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/c0a786317d78448c7e0f09ff50d796e0fcc0a889))
+* use RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN for release-please action ([#10](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/issues/10)) ([4e6278c](https://github.com/sparetimecoders/nodejs-messaging-nats/commit/4e6278cce6b48561a1618323ec5f0e5dcc8b3d2b))
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ca1a1ea..4c0b2cc 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@sparetimecoders/messaging-nats",
-  "version": "0.0.0",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
   "description": "NATS transport for sparetimecoders messaging libraries",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {