QC Chamber highlights year of ‘monumental wins’

The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was filled with success stories, hopes for the future and calls for more action. “We’ve had monumental wins. … It’s been a whirlwind of a year,” QC Chamber CEO LaDrina Wilson told a crowd of about 600 business leaders at the Thursday, Aug. 10, luncheon meeting at […]

The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was filled with success stories, hopes for the future and calls for more action. “We’ve had monumental wins. … It’s been a whirlwind of a year,” QC Chamber CEO LaDrina Wilson told a crowd of about 600 business leaders at the Thursday, Aug. 10, luncheon meeting at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport. The sponsor for the annual meeting was IMEG Corp.

1 of 4

She said some of the Chamber’s big wins over the past year have included:

• Helped business attraction and expansion projects with a total economic impact of $75.6 million and 179 new jobs.
• Provided 1,891 resource assists to help grow and retain businesses in the region.
• Celebrated 76 apprentices signing with 16 local employers.
• Launched the Next Generation program to help transform aspiring professionals into influential community leaders.
• Worked with the Downtown Davenport Partnership with $29 million invested in 13 projects, and $69 million in 12 projects under construction. Also, saw 29 new and expanded businesses in downtown Davenport.
• Worked with the Downtown Bettendorf Organization in awarding $60,000 in facade and interior grants, leveraging $666,000 in private investment.
• Worked with the Rock Island Downtown Alliance in helping get $7.4 million in total capital for placemaking improvements.

All these success stories – and many others – help make the Quad Cities a region big and small businesses want to call home, Ms. Wilson added. “We know our most important work is to help businesses grow and prosper. Our efforts go beyond those of a traditional chamber of commerce and include deep knowledge and expertise in economic development. This year, we had the opportunity to expand our place management services into another downtown, because we know strong business improvement districts play a significant role in attracting big business,” Ms. Wilson said in a news statement released before the meeting. In addition to celebrating the success stories of the past year, chamber members also called for action to keep the business momentum going and make even greater improvements in the coming years. For instance, Mara Downing, vice president of global brand management and corporate communications for Deere & Co., and the incoming chamber board chair, called on the crowd to “do something for the region.” She added: “A win for one is a win for all.” Those calls for action were echoed in the speech by keynote speaker Louis L. Reed, who is an acclaimed author, social and criminal justice activist and a director with the Fines and Fees Justice Center. He also spent 14 years in federal prison. Today, he is one of the country’s leading figures in the field of social impact, and brings years of experience and expertise in government, criminal justice reform, policy advocacy, public health, and personal impact, according to information from the Fines and Fees Justice Center. On Thursday, Mr. Reed asked chamber members to focus on implementing diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace. He told the crowd that people with criminal records, facing other tough times or moving to the community from other countries deserve a second chance. And when they get that second chance and get a job in the community, they will help local businesses thrive. “People who transform themselves can help transform the economy. … Give people a fair chance,” he told the crowd. He urged business leaders to “rewrite the hiring playbook” by hiring people who may not look like them and/or come from different backgrounds. And when those new hires are made, it impacts an entire community and family. “When you hire someone into the workforce … you are bringing the entire family into the workforce,” he added. Thursday’s annual meeting also included the presentation of several awards:

• Business of the Year: Per Mar. The Davenport-based company is the largest family owned, full-service security company in the Midwest. It offers a wide range of services from home security and business security systems and much more. Established in 1953 Per Mar has expanded to 25 offices in 14 states with more than 2,500 employees. In the Quad Cities, Per Mar serves 7,500 clients and employs 300 people. “It’s really a testament to years of company growth and continuous improvement. We work at getting better and growing every year,” said Brian Duffy, Per Mar president and CEO, in a statement.
• Co-Volunteers of the Year: Arron Sutherland and Nicole Watson-Lam. Mr. Sutherland and Ms. Watson-Lam were appointed to serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Downtown Rock Island Steering Committee in December 2021. Their efforts were instrumental in the formation of the recently established Rock Island Downtown Alliance and the Downtown Special Service Area that it manages in partnership with the City of Rock Island. Their success in sparking new economic growth opportunities and improving quality of life in downtown Rock Island is what makes them co-volunteers of the year, according to information from the Chamber. They were not at Thursday’s annual meeting.
• The inaugural Regional Champion of Change Award: Larry Anderson, president of East Moline Glass. Through Mr. Anderson’s advocacy and investment, The Bend Campus in East Moline has grown to become one of the Quad Cities’ premier destination locations. The Rust Belt attracts thousands of fans of all forms of art, and helped spark the creation of numerous nearby businesses, including a hotel, an expo center and many more businesses to come. Mr. Anderson's efforts to develop The Bend has helped secure $24 million in federal funds that will go toward connecting The Bend to the rest of downtown East Moline, according to information from the chamber. Mr. Anderson said that he’s seen East Moline flourish throughout his life, and his desire to create positive change in his home community is what inspires him most. “I grew up here and I’ve watched the changes, and I don’t like some of them. East Moline was a great place to be growing up and it’s becoming a great place again today,” he said a news statement. Mr. Anderson was not at Thursday’s meeting.