Building a winning Quad Cities region in 2020 and beyond

The Quad Cities Chamber has listened to the needs of the business community, and we hear you loud and clear: attract more people and boost the economic prosperity of our region.

Our six-county Quad Cities region’s population has not grown enough since the 1990s, and current trend lines show our population in decline, especially among those of working age. And like many Midwest cities, our economy is growing slowly despite the many wins we have had as a region over the last decade. 

If we want to attract top talent and grow our economy, specifically our six-county Gross Regional Product (GRP), we cannot wait to act; we must invest in bold solutions now. 

“The Quad Cities Chamber has the winning vision, partnerships and tenacity to grow and attract talent and business,” Chamber President & CEO Paul Rumler said. “I’m confident we’ll succeed as a direct result of your active engagement and commitment.”

We set ambitious goals, in alignment with the Q2030 Regional Action Plan, to build a winning Quad Cities region. The Chamber can lead big ideas to reach these goals by harnessing our region’s collective ability to advance a winning economy. We have done it before, and we can do it again!

1. The Quad Cities population reaches half a million people
2. The region's Gross Regional Product (GRP) grows to $40 billion

To build a winning region, these are our five core areas of action: 

• Economic Development – driving business investment in core industries
• Placemaking – advocating for cool places throughout the region and investments in all downtowns
• Business Services – helping businesses succeed in uncertain economic conditions
• Q2030 – providing stable backbone support for Q2030 to achieve our collective vision
• Talent Development – growing the region’s population and creating community leaders

It will take our entire region working together to meet these goals. You have shaped the Chamber to lead the way to a winning economy and to act as your primary agent to collectively drive prosperity, competitiveness and regional strength. We will do this by aligning and motivating businesses and individuals, fostering partnerships, being accountable for keeping momentum and achieving results.

We commit to engaging your thoughts and opinions on the strategies that will grow our region’s population and GRP. As the economy changes, we need to be able to pivot to ensure success. As major employers and drivers of our economy, we need your insight, expertise and support to win. 

You need a strong, capable and strategic chamber to work alongside you and on your behalf. The Quad Cities Chamber is a true partnership of private and public, for-profit and nonprofit leaders, all working together to drive transformational change. To triumph over the challenges before us will require the time, talent and treasure of us all. 

Are YOU in? Together we win the race for talent and economic prosperity.