I was pleasantly surprised to find a thoughtful economic analysis of the proposed Arnold Heritage and Innovation Center (AHIC) by Mr. Brady Flanigan in the April 9th Tullahoma News. He clearly showed there are a lot of details to be worked out before the AHIC should be built. If only Titan’s Stadium and the MCCCC had been more carefully studied. But the depth of details Mr. Flanigan is requesting requires a great deal of time and should therefore be the first stage of a funded project. If the numbers don’t make sense after that, then the project should be re-scoped or scrapped.

But at this point I’m more focused on what Mr. Flanigan points out in his last paragraph: What exactly would the AHIC provide and is there a need?

As a libertarian, I’m not a fan of excessive public spending. I believe most things are done better by the citizens themselves or by private companies that must profit or vanish. Public works should be for things that 1) the private sector shouldn’t or won’t do and 2) greatly benefit a substantial percentage of the population. These are normally things that cost money instead of make money (or a private company would do them). In Tullahoma this includes the roads, the parks (including Waggoner Park), the recreation centers, the library, the schools, and the airport, among other things. Most of Tullahoma believes these things have a purpose that is worth the cost, so we keep funding them.

At this point the AHIC is a vision and can be altered. I see it as a place citizens could access expensive tools like engineering analysis codes (which cost $50,000/year), AI tools, precision machining tools, and laboratory equipment. These would be used by innovators to flesh out their ideas. But maybe others could also 3-D print parts they need for their cars and appliances that are out-of-stock. Others could video-call relatives. I also envision educational talks and a theater people could rent out. I’d like to see classes taught there for people to learn about programming, electronics, engineering, and other topics. I see it as a complement to the HOSC, more focused on high school students and adults.

I do not believe the AHIC would be fully self-supporting. In fact, I don’t think many citizens would be able to use it if it were since the cost would be too high or the services too specialized. Grants will help, but some costs will fall to the taxpayers. So, I challenge The News and the citizens of Tullahoma in general to think about what such a place could be and what should be there. What shared resources are not available to you that would be worth a portion of your tax dollars to support? What is worth paying for, and is the cost worth the benefit?

Joseph Sheeley

Tullahoma