The City of Davenport is continuing to make dreams come true with another round of funding for its DREAM Project and Commercial DREAM Project.
Through its residential grants, the city has invested millions of dollars into its heritage neighborhoods with financial assistance to new and existing homeowners to make exterior property improvements. This year, the Davenport City Council increased the 7-year-old program’s funding by $425,000 after approving new DREAM-eligible neighborhoods.
Similarly, the commercial program – now on its third round – offers eligible property owners grants to improve blight conditions on commercial, industrial and mixed -use buildings. Applications for both programs will be open through Friday, July 31. For more information and an application, visit here.
This marks Round 8 for the Davenport DREAM Project, which will award more than $1.3 million. The eligible neighborhoods have been expanded to include the residential area around the Village of East Davenport as well as the Ridgeview East neighborhood near Division and West 76th streets. For a DREAM neighborhoods map, visit here.
The latest round of funding is expected to assist 16 more projects by homeowners.
“We’re excited to expand the DREAM Project to more neighborhoods where small improvements can make a big impact,” Alexi Edmonds, the city’s housing rehab program manager, said in a news release Wednesday, July 1. “We’re committed to making these block -level investments that build our community pride.”
Since 2019, the Davenport DREAM Project has invested $8 million into improving 326 residential properties.
Homeowner applications are scored on a competitive basis and give preference to exterior façade improvements and outstanding code violations. Those selected for 2026 grants will be notified by December.
Commercial DREAM
The city’s west end is getting more attention in Round 3 of the Commercial DREAM Project. The target area is the Rockingham Road commercial corridor from Division Street to Ricker Hill Road.
The city council approved investing $650,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to improve building conditions, eliminate blight, and encourage economic investment and revitalization along the largely industrial and commercial corridor.
“Commercial DREAM can transform a business from the outside in,” said Susanne Knutsen, Davenport’s economic development manager. “This program adds to the economic development incentives focused on bringing new ideas to Davenport’s West End.”
Since 2017, the city has invested $1 million in Commercial DREAM grants city-wide, which have supported 15 improvement projects.
All eligible property owners in the Commercial DREAM Project area will receive a notice in the mail informing them of the program and how to apply, according to the city.
