I wrote about the new Connection Willmar Initiative portal earlier this week, but the West Central Tribune has an update…

The Connect Willmar Initiative marketplace had 65 sign-ups prior to the evening meeting of the Willmar City Council on Monday. The site had launched three days prior to that on May 2.

That information was part of an update from City Operations Director Kyle Box on the Connect Willmar Initiative, a city effort to construct a $24.5 million open-access, high-speed fiber network throughout the city of Willmar.

The marketplace website, which can be reached from the city website at willmarmn.gov, allows residents to sign up for services and for project updates, while allowing the city to gauge residents’ and businesses’ interest.

The interest shown by the city’s residents and businesses will help assure the council and the city that the network will pay for itself as designed.