Camblin Hills Development Breaks Ground, Paving the Way for Future Growth

Vision Atlantic hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for Camblin Hills Housing Development June 18th, drawing a large crowd to celebrate this historic feat for the Atlantic community.

The event included a brief program, with words of appreciation and excitement shared by Christina Bateman, Vision Atlantic Board President; John Hoich, Vice President of the Charles E. Lakin Foundation; Donna Dostal, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa; and Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

While the afternoon focused on celebrating Atlantic’s future, Vision Atlantic also took time to honor the past—specifically the lasting impact of late community leaders Bob Camblin and Don Sonntag. Their families were in attendance and shared heartfelt reflections on the incredible contributions both men made to Atlantic. Without their vision and dedication, much of the community’s housing and commercial development would not exist today. In recognition of their legacy, the Vision Atlantic Board of Directors presented each family with a Legacy Award, acknowledging the role their work played in making this new development possible.

Camblin Hills is located along Olive Street between 17th & 22nd Street and will add 142 new homes to the community over the next five years. The development is designed to meet diverse housing needs with a mix of single-family homes, condos, town homes, tiny homes and lots for custom builds.

In 2025 alone, 48 units will be built, including several single-family homes, multiple condos, and 10 tiny homes (which will be used as Airbnb rentals)—all aimed at revitalizing Atlantic and welcoming new families to the area.

This project is made possible through an incredible partnership with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Together, they established a $23 million investment fund, which Vision Atlantic will borrow from to build all 142 units. As the loan is repaid, up to 5% of the fund balance will be donated back to Vision Atlantic to establish a long-term community endowment fund—supporting local needs such as affordable childcare.

For more information about the Camblin Hills Housing Development, visit www.visionatlantic.org or email visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

 

 

Cook Sanitation Donates $1,000 to Vision Atlantic

Cook Sanitation in Atlantic has donated $1,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project that includes housing development, a new child development center, and YMCA expansion, in Atlantic.

“I want to see the community grow and keep younger generations here for years to come. This project addresses these issues, giving current and new residents reasons to want to stay in Atlantic,” expressed Cook Sanitation owner, Dalton Cook.

Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Infrastructure for the 142 mixed unit Camblin Hills housing development and 300 capacity child development center is almost complete, with construction of 48 homes currently underway. Construction of the child development center and YMCA expansion is slated to begin early 2026.

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and child development center. To date, they have raised $26 million of that goal, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills housing development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $13 million needed to meet their fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Visit www.visionatlantic.org and follow on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates and in-depth information of the project scope.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

Pictured: Debbie Waterbury, Christina Bateman, Don Cook, and Dalton Cook.

Public Invited to Camblin Hills Housing Development Groundbreaking Ceremony

Vision Atlantic is proud to announce the official groundbreaking ceremony for the highly anticipated Camblin Hills Housing Development, taking place on Wednesday, June 18 at 2:30 PM. The ceremony will be held at the east end of the development, near 19th Street, and is open to the public.

The event will include a brief program, light refreshments, and a unique opportunity for attendees to meet the contractors bringing this transformative project to life. Guests will also receive an exclusive look at floor plans for the variety of housing options planned for the development.

Camblin Hills, located along Olive Street between 17th & 22nd Street, is named in honor of the late Bob Camblin, a passionate community leader who dedicated his life to the growth of Atlantic, co-founding Vision Atlantic in 2022 before his passing. The project will add 142 new homes to the community over the next five years, designed to meet diverse housing needs with a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, and tiny homes.

In 2025 alone, 48 units will be built, including several single-family homes, multiple duplexes, and 10 tiny homes (which will be used as Airbnb rentals)—all aimed at revitalizing Atlantic and welcoming new families to the area.

This project is made possible through an incredible partnership with the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Together, they established a $23 million investment fund, which Vision Atlantic will borrow from to build all 142 units. As the loan is repaid, up to 5% of the fund balance will be donated back to Vision Atlantic to establish a long-term community endowment fund—supporting local needs such as affordable childcare.

“This project represents a major investment in Atlantic’s future,” said Christina Bateman, Vision Atlantic Board President. “We are thrilled to take this next step and invite the public to join us in celebrating the start of a development that will help ensure a vibrant, thriving community for generations to come.”

For more information about the Camblin Hills Housing Development, visit www.visionatlantic.org or email visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.