DUBUQUE INITIATIVES

DUBUQUE INITIATIVES. Facing an economic downturn and fleeing businesses, the city of Dubuque in the late 1970s was looking for funding for an industrial park. A new highway through downtown Dubuque displaced businesses and alternative locations were few. Grant money was available to non-profit organizations, but not to municipalities. To seize this opportunity, the Dubuque City Council voted in 1980 to form a non-profit entity and named it DUBUQUE IN-FUTURO. The grant money received for the initial Westside industrial park investment and the subsequent sale of the lots has seeded several other impactful projects throughout Dubuque. Dubuque In-Futuro became Dubuque Initiatives in 1920. It is an entirely self-sustaining entity, which serves as a catalyst to community development and job creation. In 2019 eleven board members served the organization. (1)

Since 2000, Dubuque Initiatives participated in significant projects which helped to encourage over $311 million in new investment causing an increased $365 million in assessed value and 1,500 new jobs. The following is a list of some of the projects Dubuque Initiatives has participated in or facilitated in recent years: (2)

Dubuque Industrial Park South development

Cooper Wagon Works

Port of Dubuque Land Acquisition

Retail Expansion Efforts

Weber Paper Building reuse (Platinum Building)

Old German Bank (Silver Dollar Cantina)

Historic Millwork District

Roshek Building Purchase & Renovation

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Source:

1. Dubuque Initiatives, "History," Online: https://dubuqueinitiatives.com/history-dubuque-in-futuro/

2. Ibid. "Our Projects"