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Celebrating our region’s 2022 successes

December 20, 2022
Quad Cities Chamber team at the staff holiday party

As we enter the final days of 2022, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on all the successes our QC region celebrated this year. At the Quad Cities Chamber, we are proud to play a part in these accomplishments, standing alongside our partners and investors as we continue our quest to create a prosperous regional economy where all can thrive.
 
We are proud to share a few of the highlights:

Business & Economic Growth

  • Landed 7 successful business projects, in partnership with many community organizations, with an economic impact to exceed $198 million and add 316 new jobs.
  • Advanced a total of 56 business projects; 44 of those were business attraction projects in our primary industries.
  • Celebrated Fair Oaks Foods groundbreaking and $134 million investment in a new state-of-the-art facility producing fully cooked bacon -  the largest business attraction project in Chamber history. 
  • Provided 2,047 individual technical assistance to small and large businesses throughout our region, providing them with essential information on workforce and financial resources.
  • Offered guidance to six QC companies awarded a Manufacturing 4.0 Workforce Innovation Grant or a Technology Investment Grant through the Iowa Economic Development Authority with a total investment topping $2 million. 
  • Contributed funding to the region’s two Small Business Development Centers to hire business advisors to serve to minority entrepreneurs which provided 399 clients with one-on-one confidential services in the first 9 months. 
  • Advocated to secure the Rock Island Arsenal as the home of the world’s largest metal additive 3D printer.
  • Hosted four national site consultants on a two-day tour of the region to learn about QC targeted industries, workforce, infrastructure and available properties.

Talent Attraction & Development

  • Lauded the completion of the first Leadership QC cohort with 23 business, nonprofit and community leaders.
  • Welcomed business leaders to the new Minority Business Councils engaging with Black businesses, women, immigrants and refugees, and LGBTQ+ individuals to provide resources and build networks.
  • Increased partnerships and participation in the High School Registered Apprenticeship Program to 66 students and 17 employers.  
  • Partnered on the QC Mayors’ Youth & Young Adult Hiring Fair attended by 250+ young adults and 42 employers. 
  • Administered the Home Base Iowa Program in partnership with Scott County and the City of Davenport.
  • Organized three Business Forums to discuss talent attraction and retention and seek new approaches to solve workforce challenges. 
  • Hosted 225 college students in the InternQC program providing an opportunity for them to get connected and learn more about why the QC is a great place to work and live.
  • Launched a multi-media marketing campaign targeting college graduates, skilled trades and mid-career professionals in Chicago, Des Moines and more to move to the QC.

Placemaking & Place Management

  • Championed the creation of a Special Service Area for downtown Rock Island, with the guidance of the Downtown Steering Committee, which was approved Dec. 12 by the City Council.
  • Secured a $3 million grant from the State of Illinois for downtown Rock Island revitalization as well as a $267K state grant for Arts Alley, in partnership with the City of Rock Island.
  • Celebrated the $9.6 million Destination Iowa grant awarded to the City of Davenport and Figge Art Museum for three signature projects.
  • Advocated successfully for the return to two-way traffic on 3rd and 4th Streets in downtown Davenport through the Downtown Davenport Partnership.
  • Completed the third successful year of the Downtown Bettendorf Organization with new businesses opened, #BettonDowntown marketing and a strong relationship with the City of Bettendorf.
  • Collaborated with hundreds of businesses through downtown Bettendorf, Davenport and Rock Island for the Deck the Downtowns promotion including the popular hunt for holiday ornaments.

Thanks to the strong commitment from our investors and strategic financial management, we are advancing our regional business climate, driving economic growth, and developing and attracting talent to work and live here. The support of our investors sustains our work, and it matters. Its impact was witnessed throughout the region in 2022. We look forward to a prosperous 2023 in collaboration with you.