Quad Cities Chamber Blog

The time is now to move forward with a proven path and create an SSA in partnership with a new place management organization affiliated with the Quad Cities Chamber to help revitalize downtown Rock Island.

Midland Davis Corp., one of the oldest full-service recycling companies in the Midwest, has expanded its operations and launched a wood pallet refurbishing division in Rock Island. This fifth-generation family company is now collecting, repairing, reconstructing and selling refurbished wood pallets to customers in the region.

Karen and Emmanuel García launched their business, the Cocina Verde food truck earlier this year. Before they did so, they turned to the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at WIU-QC for guidance. The Quad Cities Chamber partners with the Illinois SBDC at WIU-QC on providing outreach and services to minority-owned businesses in the region.

As the City of Rock Island considers establishing a downtown Special Service Area (SSA), the Chamber has been honored to work alongside the City, downtown property owners and businesses. Hear Chamber CEO, Dr. LaDrina Wilson's message on this opportunity.

QC, that’s where entrepreneurs enrich us with their innovation and inventive imagination. It is where small business owners invest – dollars, as well as lots of heart & soul – into our region’s success. And it is where we reciprocate by investing in them, too. QC, that’s where we put our money where our community is, embracing the movement and the power of doing business local.

Positive action requires positive vision, and the Rock Island City Council and staff deserve applause for taking that approach to revitalizing downtown and considering the establishment of a Special Service Area (SSA). At the Quad Cities Chamber, we truly believe in the value of downtowns and place, and we see the SSA as a vehicle to move everyone in the same positive direction toward building and celebrating this place.

QC, that’s where environmental stewardship isn’t a trend – it’s a value on full display. It is where Midland Davis Corp. sparked the QC’s recycling revolution – starting in 1892. And where conserving the environment and protecting shared resources is part of everyday best practices for QC-headquartered West Liberty Foods. It is where an EPA-declared Superfund Site was reclaimed by the community and became Nahant Marsh Education Center - a remarkable natural playground we get to explore.

Officials from Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation (DOT) continue to study alternatives for the I-80 bridge and recommended moving forward with alternatives two, three, four and five. Illinois DOT and Iowa DOT will accept public comment on the four options through Nov. 10 and businesses are encouraged to share feedback with the states and the Chamber.

The Quad Cities Chamber views the Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern Railway merger as an opportunity to bring increased commerce, economic development and resources to our region.

On November 8, Illinois voters will be asked to amend a portion of the Illinois Constitution. On sample ballots in Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties, the amendment will be listed as “Proposed Amendment to the 1970 Illinois Constitution.” Read the Chamber's position on this amendment.

Evidence has shown that what holds a company together as it progresses, evolves and becomes successful is the people; and what makes the people want to be there is the workplace culture. During the Chamber’s Oct. 26 Business Forum: Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace Culture, attendees heard from three QC business leaders who are connecting with job-seekers and employees.

The world’s largest metal additive 3D printer, a machine capable of printing a joint-free hull for the U.S. Army’s next-generation combat vehicle, is expected to be up and running at the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center (JMTC) on the Rock Island Arsenal next spring. It is a story of remarkable innovation that can revolutionize warfighter survivability and illustrates the power of partnerships between the Chamber-affiliated Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance (RIADA); federal, state and local elected officials; ASTRO America; and the U.S. Army.

The Quad Cities Chamber is one of four Illinois Defense Manufacturing Consortium (ILDMC) community members that will share a $5 million grant to help local manufacturing companies and defense contractors grow through operational excellence, innovative technology and workforce.

Jenelle Wolber, Director, Business & Economic Growth Services for the Quad Cities Chamber, was recently certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) by the National Development Council (NDC). Wolber is the Chamber’s lead for Business and Economic Growth projects. She works closely with QC and prospective businesses, ensuring they understand the benefits their projects will have on the region and know about all financial assistance opportunities.

QC, that’s where a diverse portfolio of green energy allows mega manufacturers, global corporations and small businesses to enjoy the 11th lowest electricity rates in America. It's where industry powerhouses and corner craft breweries operate on renewable, sustainable and carbon-free energy. It is where corporate social responsibility becomes action, upheld through a diverse portfolio of low-cost, abundant and reliable energy sources.

QC, that’s where manufacturing is the powerhouse that fuels our region’s economy. That’s where we are building on the legacy of John Deere, a global giant that remains rooted in the QC and the genesis for countless spinoffs and innovators. That’s where businesses are embracing advanced manufacturing technology and robotics, leading their companies and highly skilled workers into the future. Let's celebrate our regional manufacturers during National Manufacturing Month for the massive impact they make.

When you find a company that aligns with your values, a career isn't work – it’s a calling, a fun avenue to contribute and enrich the community in which you live. Jenna Blozevich is living that life in the Quad Cities, and she’s far from alone. Young professionals are planting roots in this growing riverfront region because the QC and the companies that call it home reflect and elevate the goals of a new generation.

The process to establish a downtown Rock Island Special Service Area (SSA) as a vehicle to stabilize investments and revitalize the greater downtown has entered the public comment phase. Learn how to provide input, the timeline and read the FAQ about the proposed SSA and place management organization.

Leadership QC is a program anchored in corporate social responsibility and when we launched it eight months ago, we challenged 23 business, nonprofit and community leaders to approach the region’s most pressing issues in a comprehensive and collaborative manner. The group heard from a variety of government and nonprofit organizations, learning more about the QC as well as strengthening their leadership skills. This is the path to advancing and growing our region, and many participants arrived at the first session in January already dedicated to that mission.

After growing nearly 500% in the past 30 years, Fair Oaks Foods celebrated another milestone on Thursday, Sept. 1, with a groundbreaking for a new state-of-the-art production facility in the Quad Cities. The event, attended by the City of Davenport, Quad Cities Chamber and additional community leaders, marked the company’s first expansion outside Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and a $134 million investment in the region.