Access LaPorte County (ALCo), the Internet community neighborhood for LaPorte County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with an original mission to create and/or index accurate information and resources in LaPorte County into one easy to access Internet location. We have since altered that mission to be "fortify the area's economic, political, cultural, and social well being by making public and community information available through the Internet and other electronic media". Since 1996, our nonprofit has put LaPorte County, IN on the cutting edge of technology through a community network.

We were one of the first eighteen community networks selected by the state of Indiana to begin this county Internet development that is linked to Access Indiana. Today, only 35 community networks exist in Indiana's 92 counties. This is made possible by the tireless efforts of volunteers throughout the county and a collaboration of over thirteen different organizations in the county. We have logged over 7,000 volunteer hours and have the support of several supporters. We average 500 people per day on our web site that spend an average of ten minutes instead of the Internet norm of two minutes.

Change is part of the Internet and Access LaPorte County is ready. As bandwidth continues to expand, computers become more powerful, and media such as television and telephone begin to intertwine, the Internet will not be tomorrow what it is today. Our organization is being lead by a new board which is making plans to take our community net to the next level. A true network needs to communicate two ways, and our online community network should be no different.