Main Street Iowa Award for VJ Unplugged

I attended the 19th Annual Main Street Awards ceremony on April 28 at the Marriot downtown along with Councilman Jim Sandager and representatives from the Historic Valley Junction Foundation. Our Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) project VJ Unplugged (located in the VJ historic business district) was up for an award for Best Partnership Effort Between Organizations. I’m pleased to announce that the project won this award thanks to cooperation between the City, the Foundation, Communication Designs, and our sponsors! The award is part of an Iowa Department of Economic Development program that utilizes investments by private entities to rehabilitate and purchase downtown property in 34 communities designated “Main Street Communities” in Iowa. This award speaks to the uniqueness of this project and the collaboration between employees and volunteers that made this happen.


Photos from the VJ Unplugged Wire Cutting Ceremony 10/06/2005

If you haven't had the opportunity to try out the Wi-Fi down in Valley Junction yet, I encourage you to do so. Anyone in the VJ service area--north of Railroad Avenue, south of Vine Street, west of 4th Street, and east of 6th Street--can get connected free of charge if your computer is Wi-Fi enabled. You need a computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with a standard Internet browser and a Wi-Fi compliant wireless Ethernet card. Available since the October 6, 2005 "wire cutting" ceremony, VJ Unplugged is an exciting benefit for both the merchants on 5th Street and residents who can take their laptop down to VJ and enjoy free Internet while patronizing the shops and restaurants. If you have any basic questions about the service, please call our VJ Unplugged line at 273-0685 or email vjunpluggedhelpdesk@wdm-ia.com.