(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Vision Atlantic report Cappel’s Ace Hardware, in Atlantic, has donated $25,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Cappel’s owner Tim Cappel said “The Cappel family is happy to support the community that has supported us for the past 80+ years. We look forward to supporting more projects in Atlantic’s growing future.”

(Pictured left-to-right) Nick Hunt, Trent Cappel, Janet Cappel, Tim Cappel, Christina Bateman, Debbie Waterbury and Melissa Ihnen

Background:

Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Construction of the 144 mixed unit housing development, 300 capacity child development center and expansion of the current YMCA facility is slated to begin late summer of 2025. Infrastructure work for the housing development and child development center is currently underway.

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and new child development center. To date, they have raised $23 million of that goal in 14 months, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills Housing Development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $15.9 million needed to meet the $39 million fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Follow Vision Atlantic on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates or visit www.visionatlantic.org.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.