(Atlantic, Iowa) – Dignitaries and honored guests were present this (Wednesday) afternoon, for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new, Vision Atlantic/Camblin Hills Housing Development project. Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman served as the program’s host. She began by recognizing the late developer Don Sonntag, and Atlantic visionary, the late Bob Camblin.

Bateman said for decades, Don Sonntag was “at the heart of commercial and housing development in our city.”

Austin Sonntag

Sonntag’s grandson Austin is also a developer.

Christina Bateman presented the Sonntag family with a “Legacy Award, in his honor. Bob Camblin, Christina Bateman said,  was a tireless advocate throughout his life for economic development in Atlantic.

Bon Camblin’s daughter Jenny

His youngest daughter, Jenny spoke of her father’s legacy on behalf of her family. She choked-up when she said her “dad would be extremely humbled and honored” if he was there today (Wednesday).

His family was also honored with a Legacy Award from the Vision Atlantic Board of Directors. Bateman acknowledged the City of Atlantic’s donation of the land, the Comes family, for being willing to sell the land and allow the project to become a reality, Snyder and Associates Engineers, and Carley Construction for laying the groundwork for the next steps in the project, along with many others. The 49-acre Camblin Hills Development will feature 142 new homes, a park with a playground, walking/bike trail, and the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of Atlantic.

John Hoich

John Hoich, with the Lakin Foundation, spoke briefly prior to the groundbreaking ceremony on the newly constructed Lakin Foundation Boulevard. He said the goal of the Lakin Foundation is to grow cities, especially unincorporated towns, to save them from disappearing, and bringing people back to make all the communities they serve, thrive.

The Foundation and the Community Vision Foundation for Western Iowa partnered to establish a $23-million investment fund which Vision Atlantic will borrow from to build all 142 housing units. As the loan is repaid, up to five-percent of the fun balance will be donated back to Vision Atlantic, to establish a long-term community endowment fund which will support local needs such as affordable child care.

Attendees at the event also heard from Donna Dostel, with the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, and Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), prior to the official turning of gold plated spades with chunks of dirt, to signify the ceremonial christening of the site.