Ottumwa-IA

8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6 COVID-19 radically changed the way many Americans earn their living. Working from home exploded during the pandemic, and countless people decided not to go back to an office life that necessitated a grueling commute. Simonson says that the city responded by relaxing rules around home-based occupations via changes in its zoning code. “We wanted to give folks the flexibility to do small-scale manufacturing, firearms business, things you weren’t allowed to do from home so easily before,” he recounts. “That’s given people the freedom to look at those gig opportunities or second jobs they can do from home. It allows them to be creative; to do something unique. I’ve got some friends that make candles and some other woodcraft items and now they sell those at fairs on weekends.” Simonson adds that the city is also working with Mahaska Communications Group (MCG), a local phone and internet provider, which is working on building out its broadband infrastructure to make it available city-wide. “That unlocks a big opportunity,” he states. “We’re aware of the trend toward work from home and broadband is huge. So, we’re eager to start making a big