GREELEY — Weldnet, Weld County’s foray onto the Internet and World Wide Web, has signed 75 to 100 businesses during its first month and a half of operation, with a goal of signing 1,000 members within its first year.

Both the Greeley/Weld Chamber of Commerce and the Greeley/Weld Economic Development Action Partnership Inc. have jumped onto the Web through Weldnet, beating their counterparts in Fort Collins and Loveland.

Weldnet is a service of Clark and Thompson Online Services Inc., Greeley’s only locally based Internet service provider. Design of some Web pages is referred to Key Pages LLP.

“The purpose of Weldnet is to provide high-speed access to the Internet to the local Greeley calling area and to provide a site for local businesses that want a Web site on the Internet,´ said Steve Clark, co-owner of Clark and Thompson.

Clark said attracting 1,000 members within a year is “very attainable.”

Clark’s partner, Ron Thompson, said Weld County should prove a highly lucrative market, given the large number of communities within its boundaries.

“When you start adding all of those up, there’s a lot of people here,” he said.

Weldnet organizers had hoped to have the service up and running last October but were delayed until early February because of problems getting the proper high-speed telephone lines from U S West.

Clark and Thompson and Key Pages will conduct a seminar on the Web and Internet April 30. Call the chamber of commerce at (970) 352-3566 to register.