Pittsfield Economic Development Committee
Brings Wi-Fi To Main Street
Submitted By Helen Schiff
Governor Lynch alongside Selectman Edward Vien
celebrate Pittsfield’s “going wireless” this
last Thursday at the cable cutting ceremony held
by the Pittsfield EDC. This comemorated the
completion of Pittsfield’s Wi-Fi installation to
downtown Pittsfield.
As part of a comprehensive economic development
strategy, the Pittsfield Economic Development
Committee recognized that technology plays a
vital role in the global economy of 2008. As
such, the EDC, with the assistance of the
Central New Hampshire Regional Planning
Commission, submitted a grant application to the
New Hampshire Department of Revenue and Economic
Development for a telecommunications grant to
install Wi-Fi infrastructure in Downtown
Pittsfield. With the NHDRED grant in hand, the
Pittsfield Board of Selectmen and the EDC
contracted with Wicked Wi-Fi, who managed the
installation of the project. Single Digits was
then retained to install the needed
infrastructure.
The Wi-Fi, or muni-fi as some call it, will be a
service provided to those in the downtown area,
free of charge, by merely opening their laptops
and signing onto the log-on page. It is intended
to help the small businesses community, the
creative economy, and tourism in the downtown by
increasing the number of visitors who come to
downtown. The Wi-Fi system is part of a larger
comprehensive economic development strategy that
recognizes there are many variables that impact
the local economy, including technology.
Veronica Francis of WICKED Wi-Fi displays the
Town’s website to Clayton Wood as Pittsfield
activates its free wireless internet
capabilities in the downtown area.
Letter
Editor’s Note: The following letter was read
at the Wireless Celebration in Pittsfield this
last week.
Although I am unable to be with you this
morning, I want to congratulate you and the
members of the Pittsfield Economic development
Committee, the Town of Pittsfield and everyone
who has worked hard to make today’s “wire
cutting” possible.
Pittsfield is a quintessential New Hampshire
community where the Yankee ingenuity and
craftsmanship on display at Globe Firefighters
Suits and Pittsfield Weaving meets the creative
energy of the Pittsfield Players, Pittsfield
Balloon Festival and local entrepreneurs. Going
“wireless” in downtown Pittsfield adds a new and
exciting dimension to the community and will be
a tremendous asset for current residents,
businesses and students as well as to attract
new visitors and businesses to the area.
Please extend my best wishes to everyone
attending what is sure to be an exciting event
and an important step linking Pittsfield, in an
untethered way, to the world of economic and
educational opportunities that exist today.
Sincerely,
Judd Gregg
U.S. Senator
