Rock Island City Council further demonstrated its commitment to Downtown revitalization on Monday when it voted to put $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds toward a proposed $7 million project that would modernize and enhance the city’s historic center of commerce and culture. That money will be supplemented with about $1.5 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District revenue the City earmarked for Downtown infrastructure improvements, and potentially, up to $3 million from the State of Illinois Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets Capital Grant Program. “I am excited... Read More

The Quad Cities Chamber on Monday presented a progress report to Rock Island City Council on efforts to explore the creation of a new public-private place management organization supported by sustainable funding to deliver special services that enhance public spaces, encourage investment and improve overall quality of life in Downtown Rock Island. In addition, updates were provided on plans to modernize the Downtown core, including the Great River Plaza and Arts Alley. Jack Cullen, the Chamber’s Director for Downtown Rock Island, introduced the core place management services called for by the... Read More

Jack Cullen, Director, Downtown Rock Island, will present a progress report to Rock Island City Council on the Quad Cities Chamber’s partnership with the City of Rock Island focused on revitalizing the downtown business district at 6:45 p.m. at Rock Island City Hall, 1528 3rd Ave., Rock Island. The City contracted with the Chamber in early 2021 to explore the creation of a new downtown-focused place management organization supported by sustainable funding to deliver special services that: enhance public spaces; encourage investment; and improve overall quality of life in Downtown Rock Island City... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: The inspiring unveiling of a new mural on an empty building in downtown Rock Island Thursday not only adds vibrant new color, beauty and life to a little-noticed alleyway, it represents the dreams and sorrows of a talented teenager, the dreams and sorrows of an entire race, and the hopes and dreams for a further revitalization of a city’s center. Dozens of local leaders, business people, artists and residents gathered along 20th Street downtown to celebrate the gorgeous mural inspired by a Rock Island High School student’s award-winning artwork, which also served as the official... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! After a relentlessly punishing pandemic of 17 months (and counting) that’s attacked our bodies, souls and bank accounts, what could be better than four days and nights of free fun, on both sides of the mighty Mississippi? For the first time since it launched in August 2017, Alternating Currents is expanding in a big way beyond its downtown Davenport roots for 100-plus events... Read More

I got two election fliers in the mail the other day. Being that we’re only a few days away from the April 6 election, and the mayoral race in Rock Island is, from most reports, closely contested between incumbent Mike Thoms and challenger Thurgood Brooks, this is not surprising. But what has been pleasantly surprising is the positive nature of this campaign. While the Moline mayoral race slides around in the mud, with a bunch of slanderous and poorly spelled fliers by a dark money group peddling lies about Stephanie Acri’s challenger, Sangeetha Rayapati, the two men vying for Rock Island’s... Read More

When Jack Cullen first visited Rock Island in 2008, to look at Augustana College, he fell in love with downtown. After he graduated from Augie in 2013, downtown is one reason he decided to settle in the Quad-Cities. Come April 1, the enthusiastic 30-year-old (who grew up in Madison, Wis.) will return to Rocktown as the first downtown Rock Island director for the Quad Cities Chamber. Under a new two-year-contract with the city, Cullen will provide place management services for the historic riverfront business district and create a new downtown organization. “It’s really gonna be filling... Read More

In partnership with the City of Rock Island, the Quad Cities Chamber has hired Jack Cullen for the new role of Downtown Rock Island Director to provide place management services for the historic riverfront business district. According to Kyle Carter, vice president of place management for the Chamber, focused placemaking efforts are vital to a community’s growth, and having vibrant and inclusive downtowns helps attract residents, amenities and businesses. “It’s great to see a diverse group of energized and engaged downtown Rock Island stakeholders with long-term placemaking goals in mind,”... Read More

Got a perfect pupper? A great good boi? A darn awesome doggo? QuadCities.com wants to feature your dog in our new Pupper Of The Week feature! Just send a picture of your pet with their name, your name, and a sentence or two about them and we’ll post their pic and story on QuadCities.com. Message your doggo pics and info to Sean@QuadCities.com. And get ready to check out some cool doggos on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! Today’s doggo is the buddy of Maria Ontiveros and Jack Cullen, proud parents of a poodle pup, Xochie. Maria writes, “We... Read More