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Central Iowa’s CommonTHREAD Consortium Awarded Iowa Network Services’ Ripple Effect Grant West Des Moines, Iowa, [December 14, 2011] – Iowa Network Services has recently awarded a matching $5,000 Ripple Effect grant to CommonTHREAD, a consortium of communities in central Iowa that are located on or near recreational trails in the region. This group of exurban communities, loosely defined by the Raccoon River Valley Trail, state and local park systems, and other regional trails have organized themselves into a marketing group to define common purpose and to promote their assets in tourism, history and health, recreation, education, arts and development – the THREAD! The Ripple Effect grant matched two $1,000 grants made by independent telecommunication companies and members of CommonTHREAD. Minburn Communications and Panora Communications made the $1,000 grants to CommonTHREAD. INS awarded an additional $3,000 in the event other telecommunication companies in the region decide in the future to help fund the consortium technology initiatives. Grant funds will be used to plan and implement technology projects designed to entice new visitors to the trail systems and to experience the participating communities. Membership in the consortium is voluntary and at this time includes over 17 communities in Boone, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, and Polk Counties. The city of Perry is the designated fiscal agent for the Ripple Effect grant funds and will assist CommonTHREAD in facilitating the expenditure of the funds. Staff from Iowa State University’s Extension to Communities program and Iowa Area Development Group (IADG) provides technical and other assistance to the group. The Ripple Effect partnership alliance between INS and IADG is designed to advance the business and community development vitality of rural Iowa by partnering with the independent telecommunication companies (ITCs) in their economic development initiatives. The program provides financial and technical assistance to business and industry and communities, through the local ITCs, to stimulate growth and development in rural Iowa. The program makes available low-interest loans to business applicants and planning grants to communities and their economic development partners for various types of community development projects. INS has committed $1 million dollars to this rural Iowa initiative. ITCs are required to match the financial assistance provided by Ripple Effect. Other Ripple Effect services include research and education, training and technical, business marketing and outreach, and development project facilitation including financial assistance through loans and grants. Iowa Network Services (INS) is a telecommunication provider privately owned by a group of 122 Independent Telephone Companies (ITCs) that has served rural Iowans since 1989. The INS Network has been delivering the latest in voice and data telecommunications services and it continues to grow. Telephony, core network transport, Internet Protocol video, Internet, co-location and information technology services are among the products offered by INS to communication companies across Iowa and to enterprise customers nationwide. INS’ operating subsidiaries are Iowa Wireless, a statewide cellular partner with T-Mobile and Alliance Technologies, Inc., a Des Moines-based information technology company Visit www.IowaNetworkServices.com for more information or call 800-469-4000. Iowa Area Development Group is the marketing and economic development office for Iowa’s member-owned rural electric cooperatives and select municipal electric utilities. IADG has assisted with over 1,400 successful business expansions and start-up projects. This growth represents capital investment of more than $5.5 billion and 37,000 jobs for Iowa. The Iowa Area Development Group was established in 1985 to promote and strengthen rural Iowa development opportunities with no-cost services that include building and site selection, financial packaging, research and education, marketing, and other technical assistance. #
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