It's time to
embrace
the future

Last March a group of concerned Atlantic residents got together over a few evenings to discuss the direction the community should be moving in.
Called the "Vision 2020: Atlantic's Plan For the Future," the meetings were hosted by John McCurdy, a community development specialist with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) but the ideas generated came from ordinary citizens concerned about the future of the community.
Some of the sub goals included making Atlantic a center for research and development in bio-fuels, develop area business parks, add 300 new primary income jobs and 100 managerial or professional jobs, increase available housing units by about 500 units, increase recreational trails and water recreation options, develop a venue for the arts, develop new leaders, increase lodging, and coordinate educational services to link individuals with appropriate learning services. The various sub-goals have target dates ranging like 2008, 2010, 2020 (the target date for the plan) and "on-going" meaning that they would be continuing efforts.
The goals identified were expressed in the format of "Atlantic will..." and included "lead the way in technology," "have many high quality jobs," "develop the necessary housing for a growing population," "expand recreational opportunities," "market itself locally and beyond," "welcome more people," "have a high standard of living," and "educate its people for the future."
I bring this up because I attended some of the meetings, and one of the issues that seemed to have a lot of support involved “leading the way in technology.” A number of ideas were discussed, but among them was the idea of providing city-wide wifi coverage.
This what I wrote at the time:

Why not create a fund that will assist local merchants to purchase computers and develop a website. Those websites could then be linked by a search engine that would allow residents to search for products in Atlantic, before they go out of town to shop.
Funding could come from the city, Community Promotion Commission, Chamber of Commerce, CADCO, P.R.I.D.E. and other service groups. The fund could be used to offer businesses technology upgrade grants or loans to purchase computers, software etc. Classes and seminars could be held to help businesses owners understand how to use the equipment and software, how it can impact their businesses and assist them in setting up internet storefronts.
Ultimately the goal would be to create a directory of local business websites and email addresses. Businesses could offer residents the opportunity to purchase merchandise online, which could be picked up or delivered later that day.
The price of PC's is low enough, under $1,000, that it wouldn't take an outrageous amount of money to get the project started. And there are several websites available that, through the use of templates, provide a low-cost, easy to use, solution to website design.
Our own AMU could perhaps act as the server and maybe offer discounts on high speed wireless service.
Or better yet, free high-speed internet access would attract businesses that need fast, reliable communications and want the benefits of a small town, (safety, good schools etc) and still have access to outside markets.
It could serve to attract small Internet type businesses which sell products all over the world not just Atlantic and allow us to seek out employees who may be able to work at home rather than in Des Moines or Omaha.
At the very least it would provide one more incentive for new downtown businesses and a boost for existing ones at a relatively low cost.

Anyway, I don’t know if you saw the front page of the Omaha World Herald this morning (7/10), but there is a story about the community of Tabor that will be launching a city-wide wireless internet system in a few months. It is apparently the community in the state to do so.
You can find the details here.
They’ve hire a company to implement the plan and it’s going to cost the city about $240,000 over two years, and residents can sign up for $27 a month. The charge will be included on their municipal utility bill.
Yeah it’s expensive, but communities across the state are already offering internet service through their municipal utilities, including Atlantic. And there’s no question that the internet will play an increasingly important role in our lives. With the price of gasoline going up (and it will continue to go up) the ability to work online will become more and more attractive. A community that is safe, has good schools, progressive ideas and the willingness to carry them out, a variety of recreation opportunities, and a thriving downtown may well be the community of the future. The community that thrives rather than survives.
Maybe it’s time Atlantic took the next step.