Janessa Calderon’s young, fast-growing career has led her to exactly the perfect place. The driven, 26-year-old native of Muscatine, Iowa, is the new executive director (and the youngest Latina in the job) of the Greater Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC). After more than two years working for the nonprofit, the board promoted Calderon to the position – its only paid staff — effective Dec. 1, 2020. “I’m very excited about it,” she said Monday. Calderon succeeds Zenaida Landeros, the first Latina executive director of the chamber, who resigned this past spring to become executive... Read More

A pesar de la crisis de Covid , Mercado on Fifth está avanzando en su quinto año, cocinando algunas cosas muy especiales. Si bien la organización sin fines de lucro con sede en Moline, que trabaja para exhibir la comida, la cultura y los negocios hispanos, puede posponer el inicio de su quinta temporada anual, también está ocupada creando su primer edificio permanente y ha introducido una nueva programación. A fines de 2019, Mercado, con el grupo de desarrollo inmobiliario West Gateway Partners LLC, compró la antigua Car Shop Inc. en 423 12th St., Moline, al lado de la propiedad exterior... Read More

Mercado on Fifth, an open-air market in the Floreciente neighborhood in downtown Moline, is opening to the public on Friday. The Grand Opening, which will include a ribbon cutting ceremony by Lee Vasquez from the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber, is scheduled for Friday, August 26 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors will enjoy fresh produce, prepared foods, live music, and entertainment for all ages including live music by The Crooked Cactus Band from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., food vendors including El Mariachi, Divine Soul2Soul, Hacienda, Streets of Italy Pizza, What’s Poppin Popcorn, and many more,... Read More