WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—Aureon has announced that the Boone County Chamber of Commerce is the recipient of a $1,000 Ripple Effect planning grant for a community assessment survey that will be conducted by Iowa State University’s Department of Economics to examine the market strength of Boone’s downtown retail district. The grant application was made to Aureon on behalf of the Chamber by Ogden Telephone Company (OTC), one of the city’s providers of internet and digital IPTV. OTC is also investing in Boone over the next few years to bring robust broadband service with a fiber-to-the-premise capital project.

Ogden Telephone will match the Aureon grant to contribute a total of $2,000 toward the related fees of ISU and the Community Development Data Information and Analysis Laboratory that will assess the upper story residential opportunities and the walk-ability, bike-ability of the community. The total cost of the study is $7,500. Aureon and Ogden Telephone join other public and private contributors to the study.  The Boone City Council recently approved reallocating $2,000 to assist with the cost of the study.

A check presentation was made at the Boone County Chamber office on Wednesday, October 24 to Chamber and city representatives. “The Ripple Effect grant in addition to our matching grant will allow the community to move forward with the study and identify quality of life enhancements for the residents of Boone. We look forward to the results of the study and how we can all participate. It’s a win-win-win for the residents of Boone and the entire county, our company and the entire region,” says Jim Heckman, General Manager of Ogden Telephone.

Chamber Executive Director Kurt Phillips added, “The vitality of our downtown is part of overall community wellness. The research and survey results from this study will really help us identify next-steps to consider in enhancing the experience for our residents and visitors and provide a way forward for making downtown a place to be, not just a place to buy.”

(contributed article, Boone County Chamber of Commerce)