the region to offer fiber optics as a utility,” says Public Works Director Laura Nobles. Water and sewer improvements are also underway, with the city taking steps to address aging infrastructure and meet future demand. With state and federal support, including significant ARPA funding, Cabot has launched projects that will ensure consistent service to its residents and accommodate continued growth. “We’ve also pushed for sewer lines to be accessible on the south side of town; that has been needed for years. So, several miles of sewer line have been laid down on the south side of town so residents can get off of septic systems and have access to city sewer services,” Nobles explains. To supplement that, on the back end, according to Nobles, the Public Works and Engineering and recreation opportunities and supports the city’s broader goals of economic diversification and tourism. “We have it running through our city, and thanks to our grants, we can create additional access to that, so that our residents and visitors can use these trails and still access all of the city’s amenities,” Payseno explains. The backbone of these developments is undoubtedly Cabot’s infrastructure, so the city is designing its approach to meet current needs and anticipate future demands. A highly praised step the city has taken involves the already completed Connect2First fiber optic internet project, which aimed at granting every part of the city fiber optic access to the internet, leading to unprecedented benefits. “So, our city is now the owner of the actual fiber lines that we lease out… so now, Cabot is the first city in 73 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05 CABOT, AR
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