Former Rock Island County Treasurer Louisa Ewert has been appointed to the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority (QCREDA).
Ms. Ewert’s appointment was one of several announced last week by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office.
QCREDA, a regional development agency, serves 11 northwestern Illinois counties including Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties in the Quad Cities region. The other counties are: Knox, Carroll, Lee, Whiteside, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Boone and Winnebago.
By working with QCREDA, development projects can receive various assistance to move forward. The local authority can help lower the cost of financing for businesses, nonprofits, senior housing and other projects by issuing various tax-exempt bonds and Illinois Enterprise Zone incentives.
According to QCREDA, it plays a central role in helping public and private partners reduce capital costs, improve feasibility, and accelerate project timelines.
Ms. Ewert is the latest member selected to represent Rock Island County. The authority is made up of members representing the participating counties and other appointees made by Gov. Pritzker and others.
Ms. Ewert is a graduate of Moline High School and studied banking and finance at Blackhawk College in Moline. She joined the treasurer’s office in 1993, working in various capacities including administrative assistant, cashier and deputy clerk. She ran successfully in 2010 for county treasurer and retired in November 2022 after more than 30 years with the county. She did not seek a fourth term.
In 2021, she was named the 2020 Treasurer of the Year by the Illinois County Treasurer’s Association. Prior to working for Rock Island County, she had a banking career at First of America Bank, according to her LinkedIn profile.
