Partnerships Pave Way for Free Downtown Wi-Fi
May 2016
By David Zaslawsky
Wise CEO Joseph Woollard saw there was a need for high-speed internet in rural areas, so his company started working in Ramer, Pike Road and Prattville.
His work was noticed by Clay McInnis, president of the Downtown Business Association in Montgomery, who was interested in putting in Wi-Fi downtown.
“We’ve always said, never let money get in the way of the vision, but it gets in the way of time – the time is right for us to do this,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said at an announcement for free downtown Wi-Fi.
It’s free for visitors and residents and businesses, but Wind Creek Hospitality and the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation are funding the project. “We are thrilled, because every city that is progressive across this country is developing their downtown centers, and that is exactly what we’re seeing here today with this announcement,” said Leslie Sanders, chairman of the Montgomery Riverfront Development Foundation. “It’s things like this that attract people to live and to work and to visit down here,” she said.
Sanders, who is vice president of the Southern Division for Alabama Power Co., said having Wi-Fi downtown helps with recruiting companies to Montgomery and gives “a better quality of life” for citizens.
“Free high-speed internet is an economic driver – bringing more visitors and more effective business transactions,” said Magi Thomley Williams, public relations manager for Wind Creek Hospitality. “Free Internet is a win for students. High-speed internet downtown is a win for businesses serving downtown. Free internet service is a win for visitors and residents. When Wind Creek Hospitality can help make the communities where we live and work better places – that’s a win for us.”
The system was scheduled to be launched at the Montgomery Biscuits’ home opener at Riverwalk Stadium, the site of one of 24 access points to deliver the free Wi-Fi. After franchise agreements were finalized with the city and Alabama Power, it would take no longer than three weeks to complete the work, said Woollard, who has two full-time employees. His company is installing the system and providing the internet connection.
“The partnership between Wind Creek and the city to get this Wi-Fi program off the ground, I think is a big game-changer for not only downtown, but for the whole region itself,” McInnis said. “It puts an exclamation point on where we put our priorities going forward.” He credited partnerships that “bridged the gap so that we can put Montgomery’s innovations forth.” McInnis said that free high-speed internet downtown “could not have happened without a lot of collaboration. Collaboration and aggregation is really what our next economy will look like.”
Sanders praised the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who operate Wind Creek Hospitality and three casinos, including Wind Creek Montgomery and Wind Creek Wetumpka. She also praised the City of Montgomery, Riverfront Foundation and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. “The fact that we now have downtown Wi-Fi is a phenomenal step because … I would think that (for) any vibrant, growing place, that is a priority.”
Strange said in a statement: “Whether it’s building Alabama’s first internet exchange or launching free downtown Wi-Fi, public-private partnerships are playing a huge role in spurring growth and inspiring innovation in Montgomery, along with enhancing our overall quality of place.”
