Quad Cities Region Trends July-September 2020

Key Takeaways Q3 

  • Overall, the Quad Cities community has fared better than other communities across the nation through the third quarter of 2020. Some sectors continue to be very challenged, particularly the food and beverage establishments and retail businesses. 
  • What continues to drive confusion and frustration within our region specifically is the differing COVID-19 mitigation mandates between Iowa and Illinois.
  • Manufacturing remains to be relatively stable, with mild disruptions within the supply chain. Manufacturers feel they can keep their employees safe and are very happy their workforce is showing up and adapting. Manufacturing companies are leading the way by exemplifying how private industry is flexible and good at solving problems quickly.
  • Strong growth in household e-commerce continues to be a driving factor in the warehouse and distribution industry.
  • Despite the pandemic, the Chamber team is working on more projects during this same period this year over last year, between business attraction project requests for information coming in from both states and potential business expansion projects identified through conversations with primary industry employers.
  • We have seen an uptick in merger and acquisition activity as a means of business growth or to strategically bring suppliers closer to the manufacturer.

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Julie Forsythe
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Julie Forsythe
Senior Vice President, Business & Economic Growth
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QC, That's Where?
A Connection to the World!

The QC is the heart of the Midwest, connected by one of the world’s most renowned rivers, the Mississippi and the regional towns it gave birth to over the centuries.

Five major cities make up the Quad Cities metro: Bettendorf and Davenport Iowa, East Moline, Moline and Rock Island Illinois. The entire QC is a family of communities in a six-county bi-state region: Clinton, Muscatine and Scott Counties in Iowa & Henry, Mercer and Rock Island Counties in Illinois. It's within a 300-mile radius of 41 million people with close access to major markets: Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City and Indianapolis.

QC offers an open-minded network and drive that make the region a hub of ambition; with an opportunity to live in a place that’s as genuine as it is quirky, where you can start something and make a difference, and enjoy the well-being of an authentic community along with the freedom of connection to the world. 

Map of the Quad Cities region
The heart of the Midwest
QC, That's Where? It's where two states and one mighty Mississippi River are home to a family of communities making the Midwest's future.