GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. A clearinghouse for cooperative activity involved with implementing a comprehensive growth and development program for Dubuque. The Dubuque business community in 1984 financed an analysis of community economic development opportunities and organizational needs. Carried out by Welton Becket Associates and Peat, Marwick and Mitchell, the study resulted in the Dubuque Plan that recognized that no single activity or program could address either the community's needs or opportunities. The Greater Dubuque Development Corporation was formed to provide guidance for the implementation of the plan. Key segments of the community are represented on the board of directors. These community representatives come from: Area Representatives At large ……………………… 5 Chamber of Commerce ……. 4 City Government…………….. 4 County Government…………. 2 Dubuque Area Industrial Development Corporation…….. 2 Healthcare Community……… 2 Northeast Iowa Tech………… 1 Organized Labor…………….. 2 Regional Planning…………... 1 State Legislators……………... 1 Tri-Colleges…………………. 1

The Plan envisioned cooperative action in eight goal areas. To achieve the goal of building and sustaining community consensus, the Corporation organized a coalition linking all-important segments of the community in the economic development process.

A second goal was to establish Dubuque as a recognized tourist destination. To reach this goal, the Corporation sponsored feasibility studies and recruited tourist-oriented downtown hotel developers, facilitated the acquisition of railroad property for parking in the ICE HARBOR area, carried out a master planning process for the Harbor development area, organized plans for improved roadway access to the 4th Street Peninsula area, and assisted in the development of state support for the local Welcome Center.

The third goal was to maintain and expand Dubuque's traditional economic base. Steps toward the achievement of this goal included financing and constructing necessary improvements in the West DUBUQUE INDUSTRIAL PARK, organizing market studies for service to support local metal-working firms, providing development information to a wide range of existing and prospective industrial employers, organizing resources for industrial land improvement, and organizing resources for plant relocation or expansion for such industries as Swiss Valley Farms, Frommelt Industries, and Theisen Distributing Company, and recruiting Captive Plastics, Inc.

To maintain and expand the health care industry, the Corporation involved representatives of the health care community in the planning process. The health care strengths of Dubuque were included in the city's marketing program.

Improving local transportation services led to the partial funding of an air service feasibility study. The Corporation also conducted research and prepared reports for local participation in the state R.I.S.E. highway improvement program. A collaborative effort was made with development efforts of local RAILROADS.

A sixth goal called for strengthening Dubuque as a retail center. The Corporation involved retail development in the cooperative planning process and provided start-up money for the Main Street Program. Opportunities were sought for tourist oriented retail attractions and major retail developers were involved in community investment opportunities.

The goal of expanding the base of service industry employment led to marketing the local service industry developments and providing development assistance to a venture in telemarketing. A collaborative employer recruitment program was carried out with Main Street, Ltd., and local support was organized for a fiber optics telecommunications access.

The final goal of the Corporation called for including Dubuque colleges and other educational resources in the overall economic development plan. Steps to achieve this objective included organizing tri-college participation in the regional economic development council, sponsoring a conference on college opportunities in state development programs, and providing assistance for grant applications.