March 28, 2024

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Baxter business center gaining gigabit Internet speeds

BAXTER — Downtown Baxter will be the home of high speed, 1 gigabyte per second Internet connection speeds beginning in July. What developers are calling Baxter’s “GigaCenter” is a joint effort between Gilman-based Partner Communications Cooperative and the Baxter Economic Development Corporation to spur economic growth in the town of 1,100 people.

The plan calls for an existing portion of the business park at 109 S. Main St. to be retrofitted into an open environment, co-working space where business ventures can work at six collaborative workstations. Co-op general manager Don Jennings said May 26 the “GigaCenter” will offer businesses casual seating, coffee and printing services and a conference room with networking and training event opportunities with room for expansion if demand grows.

“Our GigaCenter is designed to let start-ups, entrepreneurs, salespeople and telecommuters have access to facilities and connections they otherwise might not be able to afford,” Jennings said.

The announcement adds Baxter to the small but growing list of Iowa towns that offer gigabit Internet speeds including Marion, Hiawatha, Carroll, Fairfield, Muscatine and Breda.

The center will also bring a PCC office to the facility where the telecommunications organization intends to develop a showcase of its smart home and farm products.

PCC brought fiber connection lines — a faster alternative to traditional copper wiring used in phone and Internet services — to Baxter several years ago. Co-op sales and marketing manager Bryan Schultz said he believes the high-speed Internet service will be available to the town’s general population in the future, but right now the demand for home-based gigabit is not quite there.

PCC has not had special requests for the Internet speeds, but has worked with Baxter companies like KELTEC which requires higher speeds for its advanced manufacturing work. But with Baxter’s proximity to the Des Moines metro area, Schultz said the gigabit investment should show advanced companies that rural Iowa can be an attractive option for business.

“This project is meant to jump-start convenience and economic growth,” he said. “It’s an investment in Baxter.”

Schultz said his organization will give a preview of the facility at 6 p.m. June 10 with an expected opening July 11, in conjunction with Baxter Fun Days.

BEDCO President Ryan Bucklin said PCC has wanted to open a Baxter office for some time, and extending the telecommunications company a lease in the Main Street space will help add value to Baxter’s business district.

Partner Communications Cooperative is currently Baxter’s local Internet provider and has cable, Internet and telephone services in Kellogg, Melbourne, Rhodes and State Center.