Bettendorf celebrates year of beautification, transformation

As Bettendorf’s long goodbye to the old Interstate 74 bridge nears its final stages, the city has been busy transforming itself and its downtown into a destination worthy of the one-of-a-kind twin-span gateway that has taken its place.

That was the word shared with the Bettendorf City Council on Tuesday, July 18, by Ryan Jantzi, the Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) executive director. The leader of the organization, which is an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber and is now in its third year, also shared a new laundry list of accomplishments. Among them were the addition of new and expanded businesses, façade grants for building improvements, increased beautification efforts and a new downtown master plan.

 “Downtown Bettendorf is transforming in real time,” Mr. Jantzi told aldermen, “With the completion of the I-74 Bridge, investment in downtown Bettendorf is up, pedestrian traffic and nightlife has increased, and more people are living and visiting our downtown. Downtown Bettendorf is once again a destination, and the best is still yet to come.”

 Among the highlights he shared from  July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, were:

• These nine new businesses opened or expanded in downtown Bettendorf: Bettendorf Kitchen and Bath, Country Financial – Mitch Dietrich, My Crystal Portal, The Shameless Chocoholic, TMI Claims and Warranty and Yoso Modern Japanese.
• Downtown business expansion projects completed by Adventurous Brewing, Bettendorf Financial Group and Within by Conceptual Designs.
• $60,000 in DBO façade and building improvement grants to four businesses, which leveraged $666,072 investment.
• The Downtown Master Plan which will serve as a blueprint for continued growth, was  completed and unveiled in partnership with the City of Bettendorf. It was created with input from downtown stakeholders.
• Beautification efforts were amped up with the addition of 40 self-watering hanging flower baskets, 19 self-watering ground pots and new downtown gateway signage which helps define downtown as a destination. In addition, DBO purchased more than 80 U.S. flags to be installed throughout downtown on patriotic holidays.
• Downtown Bettendorf is shining a little brighter with the newly created Be The Light Park. Featuring an all-new patio, picnic tables, benches, lighting and landscaping, the pocket park charmingly forms downtown’s western edge.
• Several successful events and promotions helped drive traffic to downtown Bettendorf including June’s Be Downtown event, the Deck the Downtowns holiday promotion and social media campaigns spotlighting downtown businesses.
• DBO’s partnership with the City of Bettendorf is gaining momentum as the two organizations work closely together on code enforcement, right-of-way maintenance, signage regulations and more, ultimately creating a stronger downtown. 

Downtown visitors sampled many of those improvements in the last year or so thanks to the events listed above along with the widely successful and creative ZIP Code Day in 2022 and the inaugural 2023 Birthday Day Celebration that grew out of that well-attended week-long party. 

And the city and DBO are not done yet.

“Looking forward, the Downtown Bettendorf Organization will help guide a clearer vision of what is to come on the west side of the I-74 bridge,” Mr. Jantzi added. “In addition, we will add more retail promotions and window displays, increase funding available for façade and interior grants, and add even more hanging flower baskets. Through our continued collaboration and communication, we are creating a thriving downtown Bettendorf.”      

Jeff Reiter, Bettendorf’s assistant city administrator, told the QCBJ, “The work done by the DBO has been inspirational and very beneficial!  We at the city are so appreciative of the relationship that has been forged, and the dollars the DBO is investing in downtown are making a huge difference.”

He added: “Whether it be the façade program, the enhanced streetscapes, the landscape upgrades, the hanging flower baskets, the creation of Be the Light Park, or the American Flags on the light poles, you can visibly see the positive impact every day!  Ryan Jantzi’s work and passion has shined brightly, and we can’t say enough about the great things that the DBO is doing for downtown!”

The Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO was created by the chamber to administer and operate programs for the general improvement and redevelopment of Bettendorf’s Central Business District and to enhance its aesthetic appearance and economic future for the community and citizens of Bettendorf. 

DBO was founded to provide a unified voice for stakeholders and downtown Bettendorf business owners who are committed to the future of Downtown Bettendorf.