This story was written for WRAL TechWire Innovator partner Gig East.

The City of Wilson has been making moves to become more connected than ever before. Its Greenlight fiber network has already brought high-speed Internet to residents and visitors alike and is transforming the city with Internet-of-Things technologies.

Connectivity breeds transformation, and that’s exactly what the city is hoping to create more of with the development of the GiG East Exchange.

Announced in April 2018, the GiG East Exchange aims to be a driving force of economic growth for the City of Wilson. The goal is to attract entrepreneurs, businesses and remote workers in one place, creating a vortex of collaboration that will boost all parties involved. The GiG East Exchange is already drawing talent from surrounding areas and is getting people excited.

“[On day one], the ideal scenario for me is having a dynamic space, with its own energy. Immediately, right from the gate, [I want] people using the space,” said Exchange Manager Darren Smith about the Exchange’s opening day.

Smith already has a network of connections in the Raleigh tech sector and hopes to build the next big thing in Wilson.

“As I travel the state, I’ll talk about these early success stories, and that will attract more people,” he said.

Smith has 25 years of experience working with startups in the Raleigh area with a focus on building partnerships and relationships. Now, he’s brought his talents to Wilson, impressed by a number of factors that he believes put the city on the cusp of a tech boom.

“I was attracted first by leadership across the city. They’re completely committed,” Smith said. “First they put in high-speed Internet, then asked, ‘How do we use this asset for Internet of Things? How do we use it for wireless innovation?’ Wilson has been a leader for the last 10 years because they literally have the bandwidth to do it.”

The high-speed Internet and drive from city leaders have made Wilson an attractive area for technological growth that is usually only seen in already crowded metro areas. For example, big telecoms have been reluctant to offer gigabit speeds in a municipality unless the clientele is already there. Wilson went ahead and built its network on its own because it believes in the city’s potential.

Combining that small-town drive with the advanced infrastructure is something Smith is quick to cite in his sales pitch to interested parties.

“[Entrepreneurs] are excited because, yes, we have fast Internet, but Wilson is also a place they can establish a thriving operation with a cost of living that is so much lower. Plus, it’s a small-town environment. It has all the amenities you need and want, but you’re not spending hours in your car commuting,” Smith pointed out. “Now, with Exchange, when people have an idea they don’t have to be worried about spending thousands on rent. It’s one less obstacle.”

Right now, the Exchange is still a series of layouts and designs by an architect. The building will offer suites, single offices and open spaces. Similar to other co-working spaces, the area is designed in a way that it can be reconfigured for major meetings or training sessions.

Ultimately, the goal is to have the Exchange be a connector for the eastern part of the state, especially for companies looking for access to the services and professionals that only a connected city like Wilson can offer.

For now, Smith’s primary challenge isn’t selling people on the vision of the Exchange, it’s just getting the word out.

“I’m a perfect example,” Smith said. “When I first heard about Wilson, I didn’t know anything about it. But I pretty quickly fell in love with the concept of high tech, low cost of living and a great community.”

Construction on the space is expected to start soon, and the plan is to have the Exchange officially open in February 2020. That aggressive timeline gives Smith less than a year to get the message out that Wilson is the place to be. But with the full support of the city and the power of Greenlight behind him, he’s confident the Exchange will be a success.

“I’m around the Greenlight folks all day. The management team is constantly thinking about how we can provide a better, more connected service to the city. How can we leverage it? How can we make life better? I definitely would say I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Smith said.

This story was written for WRAL TechWire Innovator partner Gig East.