Opinion : If you build it, they will come: Broadband Project Vote Tonight

The VMEU Board will decide the fate of Vinton's Broadband project. at their meeting tonight, February 12th,  beginning at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

The Vinton Municipal Electric Utility will decide if the construction of a fiber network will proceed by accepting the bids from contractors to set the project in motion. 

There have been years of work put into this project with many volunteers who helped to compile all of the data necessary for the board to make an informed decision that would benefit the town of Vinton.

The plan for this project should it pass, means that it could be wrapped up close to the end of this year.

The benefits of this project would help the electric utilities as they move forward as well as Vinton residents.

In the election of 2015, included on the ballot was the question of whether Vinton residents would like to create a communications utility or not. 88% of the voters said, "Yes".

Since that time, there has been a feasibility study showing that the project could be economically beneficial.

Studies have been done, potential partners for the project found, bids received, and estimates of the cost created. 

With the final round of information received,  it was discovered that we could build the utility approximately $400,000 below those estimates if we proceed now. 

This project has not moved forward lightly.

Ultimately this project isn't just about those of us in Vinton now, or the businesses trying to work here, it's also about prospective residents and businesses.

The decision to move forward can only be beneficial to Vinton.

There's some truth to the line from Field of Dreams, "If you build it they will come." Businesses need this project. Future generations need it. People working from their homes need it. Business on main street needs it. 

For the Board to fail to understand that, would be a great disservice to Vinton.

The final meeting to decide the fate of this project will be held on Tuesday, February 12, at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall. 

 It is the opinion of this editor, that if you are able to attend, you should be there to show your support for this project.