[share] Why Quincy?

We were recently asked to write a letter on behalf of a local business owner looking to attract more businesses to our area. She wanted us to answer the question, “Why should a business locate in the Quincy area?”. Writing letters like these and creating custom informational packets about the opportunities and benefits available in the Quincy area are a fun part of our job. It’s our chance to brag. 

Have you ever been asked this question? What is your answer? Here’s ours: 

To Whom It May Concern:

Quincy… Life is Good! This isn’t just our slogan, it’s a reality.

The largest city within 100 miles, Quincy, Illinois is the regional hub for commerce, education, healthcare, recreation and more. Quincy easily draws more than 600,000 people in a 75-mile radius who prefer to shop, dine, work and play in a community that is friendly, vibrant and easy to navigate.

The City of Quincy and the surrounding tri-state region have a low cost of living, great schools, low crime and excellent healthcare. We also have short commute times and affordable housing, just two of the factors that led to Forbes magazine ranking Quincy number 8 on its list of Best Small Cities to Raise a Family (October 2010).

We know life is good and we have the numbers to prove it.

• At 6.9%, Adams County ranked 3^rd out of 102 counties for the lowest unemployment (March 2011).
• Retail sales figures were up in 2010 and included a record-setting December when the City’s home rule sales tax was $1,027,336.
• Quincy home sale prices, which have remained strong throughout the recent economic downturn, rose 20% in the first 3 months of 2011.
• An on-going $100 million plus construction boom includes an apartment complex, university dormitory, Salvation Army Kroc Community Center, financial institutions and various retail establishments.

Thanks to transportation developments over the past decade, Quincy is at the center of 4-lane highways in all directions. The Avenue of the Saints passes just five miles to our west and is 4-lane from Canada to the Gulf and the newly designated Chicago – Kansas City Expressway (Route 110/CKC) offers a less-congested alternate route to these popular Midwest destinations.

Quincy is poised for continued growth. Our team of experienced economic development professionals stands ready to assist you in your site selection decisions. We invite you to visit our website, www.gredf.org for more information, or better yet, come visit us in person and experience for yourself how good life is in Quincy.

Sincerely,

Jim Mentesti
President
Great River Economic Development Foundation

[share] Thought we’d share the view from our office today. Construction workers are busy pouring concrete sidewalks outside the new Franklin Square Apartment Complex.

Company officials have told us the completion date is about a month away. For more information, call 319-415-7610.

The sixth in our series of articles highlighting the remarks of GREDF Board Chairperson, Connie Schroeder at our 2011 Annual Meeting.

[share] A look back at QUALITY OF LIFE in the tri-states in 2010…

So we think the Quincy area is one of the best places to live in America. Our region has a low cost of living, great schools, low crime, good healthcare and an abundance of parks and recreational opportunities. We enjoy the availability of affordable housing, we have a love for the arts and many more factors that make the tri-states a great place to raise a family.

Speaking of raising families… In October Forbes Magazine ranked Quincy number eight on its list of the Best Small Cities to Raise a Family. We are honored to have received the recognition, but not that surprised. The magazine compared Quincy to 126 other cities with a population under 100,000 and ranked us on five quality of life measures including short commute times, percentage of adults with a high school degree, median household income, rate of home ownership and housing affordability.

Quality of life is a phrase often used in economic development. That’s because it’s an important factor in expansion and site selection decisions. After all, a business is only as good as its employees and a high quality of life leads to happy and productive employees. That’s why we continue to celebrate and support organizations and people who are contributing to our region’s excellent quality of life.

Just a few notable projects and events from the past year…

The Quincy Public Library is in the midst of a $5.5 million dollar renovation project to better serve the needs of the community. Good Samaritan Home is making progress on the second phase of their major construction project. The Foose Center for Alzheimer’s care is complete and when the entire $20.7 million dollar project is finished, Good Samaritan Home will have doubled its number of licensed and private rooms.

130 veterans from the tri-states experienced the national memorials constructed in their honor in Washington, D.C. thanks to the Great River Honor Flight and the individuals and businesses that support the organization. Two more flights are already scheduled for this spring.

The Home Builders Association of Quincy completed its first-ever Charity House building project in September. Over one hundred volunteers donated their time and materials for the project. Proceeds from the home’s auction were donated to Habitat for Humanity and Camp Callahan.

The City of Quincy was recognized with an Arts Friendly Community Award honorable mention by Arts Alliance Illinois and the Illinois Municipal League. Quincy was one of ten cities in the state chosen because our community leaders recognize the importance of the arts in fostering a vibrant and creative community.

Quincy-based Red Cactus Salsa partnered with The First Tee National Office and is donating a percentage of all its retail sales to support First Tee’s mission and core values including responsibility, honesty and confidence. The First Tee of Great River has been serving children in the tri-states for over a decade.

In March Quincy-native and Olympian Caren Kemner announced the formation of the Quincy Riverfront Athletic Association, a committee of parents, athletes and business leaders who are working toward accreditation with the Community Olympic Development Program. It’s about creating opportunities for kids and drawing on community resources, says Kemner.

TNT Kartways celebrated 50 years during their Vintage Kart Olympics in September. Owner and founder Gus Traeder, who is a member of the Racing Hall of Fame, built the facility after years of promoting the sport. And more than nine hundred street rod owners converged on Quincy for the 35^th annual Early Tin Dusters Color Run in October. The event brings about two thousand visitors to the area and generates between $700,000 and $1 million dollars for the local economy.

Tourism remains strong in the tri-states. Adams County ranked 22^nd out of 102 Illinois counties in visitor spending. Visitors spent $78 million dollars and created 740 jobs in 2009. The Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is now part of Travel Mississippi River, a 15-organization, 2-state effort to market river communities.