(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Vision Atlantic say Rolling Hills Bank & Trust has donated $500,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Keith Honke, President of Rolling Hills Bank & Trust said in a press release, Monday (today), “Rolling Hills Bank & Trust is very proud to be a supporter of the Vision Atlantic project. Rolling Hills Bank has a long history of giving back to the communities we serve. We have 12 banking locations located in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming. We are proud to be a supporter of this project that will benefit the Atlantic community in many ways.”

As we’ve previously mentioned, 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 spring of 2025. Infrastructure work for the housing development and child development center is currently underway.

With substantial monetary support from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and local donors, $18.8 million has been raised in the past 12 months, 62% of a $30 million goal. In addition to the Lakin Foundation’s $8.6 million grant, Vision Atlantic has also received an additional $23 million from the Foundation, which will act as a line of credit and help Vision Atlantic construct homes in the Camblin Hills Housing Development. As the dollars are paid back each year, the Foundation will donate 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, which will be used to help operate the child development center. The $23 million is not part of Vision Atlantic’s $30 million fundraising goal.

Pictured: Vision Atlantic Board of Directors Christina Bateman, Nick Hunt, Debbie Waterbury and Melissa Ihnen. Rolling Hills Bank & Trust President Keith Honke and Atlantic branch employees. (photo submitted)

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $11.5 million needed to meet the 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.