Fiscal year 2018-19 review - Chamber stronger than ever

The Quad Cities Chamber is stronger than ever. Fiscal year 2018-19 laid the foundation for financial sustainability, while successfully implementing strategies and programs in economic development, downtowns, business services and Q2030.

It’s important for our organization to focus on a solid financial framework in order to take our organization to the next level and focus on new priorities. Through financial restructuring, the Chamber is in good financial health with all debt resolved, no outstanding loans and a positive balance for the first time in the organization’s history.

Here are a few successes of fiscal year ending June 30, 2019:

Economic development

• Facilitated 12 successful projects with $85.6 million in capital investment, 3,354 total jobs with an average pay of $55,000 and $998.4 million total economic impact
• Assisted 29 companies with contracts to implement emerging technologies through the Quad Cities Manufacturing Innovation Hub
• Held 145 business connections meetings with employers in our targeted industries to identify opportunities and challenges, resulting in 462 technical assists
• Advocated for the opening of the Center of Excellence for Advanced & Additive Manufacturing on the Rock Island Arsenal

Business services

• Launched Business Services line of work to support small to medium size businesses
• Hosted a series of events and programs to build our entrepreneurial culture which will continue to evolve
• Provided a wide variety of networking opportunities for members to connect – the #1 reason businesses join our chamber
• Hosted 92 ribbon cuttings to celebrate business openings, expansions and milestone anniversaries
• Advocated for $225 million for the completion of passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Chicago and $9 million for Phase 3 of the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Campus in Illinois
• Supported Iowa workforce development funding and laws to ensure the state is welcoming and inclusive

Downtowns

• Launched the Downtown Bettendorf Organization with the creation of the Downtown Bettendorf Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID)
• Celebrated 14 projects representing $43 million of new investment in Downtown Davenport
• Led efforts to ensure resources were available for businesses after the historic flood
• Initiated meetings with all regional downtowns to focus on collaboration, sharing news and best practices

Q2030

• Hosted the Student Big Table and five focused Big Table community discussions
• Helped move the needle on becoming a more welcoming and inclusive community by bringing business and community leaders to the “RACE: Are We So Different?” exhibit at the Putnam Museum
• Advocated for the adoption of design standards along the Interstate 74 corridor from 53rd Street in Davenport to the Quad City International Airport in Moline
• Worked with community foundations to align grant funds around Q2030