Organizations supporting our dynamic downtowns
QC, That’s Where the heart and soul of our region can be found in our downtowns and neighborhood districts. Throughout the Quad Cities, private property and business owners have partnered with cities to form place management organizations (PMOs), which deliver unique services and activities within neighborhood boundaries and improve our quality of place.
Property and business owners in these districts know that revitalizing and sustaining vibrant downtowns and neighborhood districts requires special attention beyond the basic services cities can provide alone. Place management organizations provide that special attention to our sense of place and are funded primarily through what’s commonly known as a business improvement district (BID).
The QC has numerous BIDs, and while each operates under a different name and taxing structure, they share a common-place management mission via this unique private-public partnership. In Iowa, they’re known as self-supported municipal improvement districts (SSMID), while in Illinois, they’re known as special services areas (SSA).
The Chamber includes three affiliate Place Management Organizations that utilize BIDs in Iowa and Illinois: Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO), Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) and Rock Island Downtown Alliance (RIDA). Each focuses on three core pillars of work: business & economic growth, infrastructure & livability and advocacy & promotion.
What does that actually mean? It means we provide leadership and deep experience in downtown placemaking initiatives, economic development, strategic planning, business retention and recruitment, project management, public art, marketing and communications, event/festival production, public infrastructure, legislative policy and clean-and-safe initiatives.
Locating your business or improving your property? Our PMOs offer unique resources to help downtown businesses grow from façade improvement grants to pre-development technical assistance and tips on how to navigate city hall.
Through the power of place management, historic storefronts have been reclaimed, giving new life to thriving small businesses. Empty buildings have been transformed into bustling apartments and offices. Fresh streetscape and public art have brought vibrant color and a sense of place to our community, and festivals and music fill the air each year as we celebrate the culture of the Quad Cities.
We love the Quad Cities, and to learn more about how each of these dynamic organizations supports our special place along the mighty Mississippi River, see the links below.
