Economic development Archives - Alpine Communications

Elkader is a #SmartRuralCommunity Powered by Fiber Broadband

September 27, 2021

What does it mean to live, work and be part of a Smart Rural Community? For Elkader, it started with Alpine Communications investing millions of dollars in building the 100% fiber-optic Fusion Network in 2007. In the past 14 years, Elkader has experienced how fiber broadband has given the community a competitive edge to attract new residents, businesses and improve the quality of life for those who live and work here. Recently, Alpine Communications presented two Smart Rural Community road...

Yaddof Charts a Course for Guttenberg’s Vitality

March 5, 2021

With Guttenberg’s Community Vitality Director, Emily Yaddof, at the helm, the community has an experienced leader to navigate the choppy waters of COVID-19. With clear goals for Guttenberg, Emily is charting a course for success. The City of Guttenberg invested in the future of the thriving river town by creating the new position. Emily explained, “Guttenberg has a lot of great groups and community organizations working on projects. My role is to help bring people together to collaborate, so Guttenberg...

Broadband and Housing Incentives Can Attract Movers to Rural Iowa

July 23, 2020

The ongoing pandemic has demonstrated the security and convenience of living in rural Iowa. Residents have access to quality healthcare, close relationships with schools and colleges, the comfort of knowing your neighbors, and the space to be free – and social distance. Furthermore, broadband technology connects us to faraway friends using technologies such as Facetime or Zoom. For others, they can maintain their jobs through remote work capabilities. Alpine Communications has experienced an uptick in requests from people connecting broadband...

Fiber Broadband Empowers Entrepreneur to Plant Roots in Rural Iowa

June 1, 2020

Midwest roots run deep and for a bi-coastal couple. Brent and Katie Grinna of Boston, Massachusets call McGregor, Iowa, their home away from home. Fiber-optic broadband connections deliver the quality of life they dreamed about for their young family. Brent Grinna is the founder of EverTrue, a software platform that helps colleges and universities engage alumni and raise money. Brent is a native of rural Postville, Iowa, and his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic. Ivy League Brown...

There’s a Ripple Effect When You Shop Local

May 5, 2020

When a single stone is thrown in a lake, many ripples form from the impact and expand across the water. That’s similar to the effect you can have in your community when you choose to shop locally. Advocates for Independent Business (AIB) and the Institute of Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) use this ripple concept to convey the shop local message. They also encourage businesses to help spread the word. When you choose locally owned businesses for your shopping, you create a...

Apply Today For an FRS Community Grant

August 26, 2019

Do you have a dream project waiting on hold for funding? Alpine Communications is here to invest in the future of our region, you just need to apply. The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) awards annual grants of $250 to $5,000 to communities served by NTCA members, including Alpine Communications. Whether used for telemedicine projects, smart agriculture equipment for farms, startup money for young entrepreneurs, job creation initiatives, or upgrading first responder services, these funds help rural Americans invest in...

On 99 County Tour, Alpine Communications Attracts Attention of Senator Grassley

May 14, 2019

When we say we believe connected communities become thriving communities, sometimes the best opportunities are to connect with the well-connected. Recently, Alpine Communications was happy to have the chance to share the good work we’re doing with someone of influence: United States Senator Charles Grassley. When the United States Senate is not in session, Senator Grassley visits all 99 counties in Iowa to keep in touch with issues that matter to his fellow Iowans. Clayton County was the 17th county...

Elkader Uses Housing Incentives to Grow and Thrive

March 5, 2019

Since 1836, when Elisha Boardmann and Horace Bronson settled on the banks of the Turkey River, Elkader has been a vibrant hub for commerce in Northeast Iowa. Elkader reached its peak population of 1,688 in 1980 but it has been steadily declining over the past 40 due to urbanization and a changing agriculture economy. As a result, enrollment has also declined at Central Community Schools. The challenge is how to keep the small, rural community thriving. Jennifer Cowsert, Elkader City...

Tag Archive: Economic development