(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce in association with Vision Atlantic, today (Friday), said Watts Management, owned by Randy & Marsha Watts, has donated $25,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Randy Watts says he and his wife Marsha “Have been firm believers in Vision Atlantic’s project from the beginning. This is a huge opportunity for Atlantic to grow our population with private investments and a great partnership with the Lakin Foundation. As there continues to be donations from the community, we thought we would help out. Pledges can stretch up to five years, making donations of any amount more feasible for supporters. We are blessed to be able to donate to this cause and ask others to join us and donate as you can.”

Pictured: Melissa Ihnen, Debbie Waterbury, Christina Bateman, Marsha Watts, Amelia Jensen, Beckett Jensen and Randy Watts. (Photo submitted)

As we previously reported, 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, $20 million has been raised in the past 12 months, 66% 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.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $10 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.