Chambers to Lead Regional Economic Development Efforts

Quad Cities First was announced by area leaders as the new chamber-led model for Quad City regional economic development.  This new entity will take over the responsibilities previously conducted by the Quad City Development Group.  The Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and a newly formed Iowa Quad City Chamber of Commerce will co-manage regional sales and marketing, including the Rock Island Arsenal, through Quad Cities First.  All other essential functions of regional economic development will be delivered through a Chamber joint venture. 

Why Quad Cities First?

Several times over the past years, private sector investors in regional economic development have taken a look at how the Quad Cities uses the dollars, staff and resources invested in economic development to determine whether these resources are utilized to the best advantage for our region. Hundreds of businesses and multiple units of local government on each side of the river invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial and social capital each year to support a multitude of organizations involved in various and sometimes duplicative facets of economic and community development. These organizations include, but are not limited to, the Quad City Development Group, Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, DavenportOne, Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce, Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation, RENEW, REDEEM, Greater Davenport Redevelopment Corporation and Bettendorf Development Corporation.

While the collective output of these organizations has been substantial, and each enjoys a tradition of accomplishment, key private sector investors concluded there is a need to consolidate essential economic development functions into a streamlined structure that provides increased opportunity for sustainability and measurable results in the years ahead. 

To that end, business leaders on the Quad City Development Group Board approached the Boards of Directors of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and DavenportOne to request that the two chambers consider co-leading and co-managing economic development on behalf of the bi-state region. The specific economic development functions were described as follows:

• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Planning and Funding for the Quad Cities

• Sales and Marketing of the Quad Cities Region  

• Business Retention and Expansion

• Regional Entrepreneurial Development

• Research and Data Collection & Analyses

• Federal Advocacy to Support Regional Growth

• Military and Rock Island Arsenal Growth

• Regional Workforce Development

Recommended Economic Development Model

The recommended model calls for centralized, chamber-led management of regional economic development sales and marketing.  All essential functions of regional economic development will be delivered through:

§  A new entity called “Quad Cities First” co-managed by the Chambers, funded with public and private investment, and tightly focused on regional sales and marketing, which includes Rock Island Arsenal marketing

§  A joint venture of the existing and restructured state-based Chambers.

Quad Cities First Organization Details

Quad Cities First will focus entirely on regional sales and marketing, including  Rock Island Arsenal sales and marketing, in recognition of the importance of those functions for the economic growth of our region.

Quad Cities First will be governed by a seventeen (17) member Board of Directors that will include ten (10) private sector members nominated by the Chambers and seven (7) public sector members chosen by the five cities and two counties.

Rick Baker and Tara Barney , President & CEOs of their respective chambers, will serve as co-CEOs of Quad Cities First and report to the Quad Cities First Board related to the specific functions within that board’s purview.

Click Here for a Quad Cities First FAQ sheet.

Chamber Joint Venture Details

The Illinois Quad City Chamber and Iowa City Chamber will continue to provide individual programming and chamber of commerce services through their respective organizations. But, much like they do today with selected programs through the Quad City Chamber Federation, the Chambers will coordinate efforts to govern and manage regional economic activities through a Chamber Joint Venture agreement authorized by the boards of both Chambers. The Chamber Joint Venture will be accountable for the delivery of regional economic development functions outside those specifically prescribed to Quad Cities First. 

Iowa Quad City Chamber of Commerce Details

DavenportOne is formally merging its personnel, assets and work plan into the Iowa Quad City Chamber organization.  The Bettendorf Chamber has chosen to endorse the new entity but remain a separate and autonomous chamber at this time, outside the Iowa Quad City Chamber and Quad Cities First model. The Bettendorf Chamber may elect at a future date to become part of the Iowa Quad City Chamber and Quad Cities First.  Other Chambers of Commerce in Scott County and Eastern Iowa may choose to do so as well.

Click Here for an Iowa Quad City Chamber FAQ sheet.

Benefits of the Chamber-Led Model

The chamber-led model offers benefits for area businesses, individual communities and the Quad-City region as a whole, including:  

• Common strategic planning and alignment of work plans between the chambers, local economic development organizations and communities so that each  understands how its priorities fit into and support regional growth

• A unified fundraising effort that will broaden the base of support and strategically  allocate resources toward regional growth priorities

• Clarity in the handling of prospects between and among cities and development officials

• A streamlined process, with fewer points of contact, for prospects seeking to locate or expand in our region

• Heightened emphasis and investment in outside sales and promotion of the Quad Cities region.