Tyla Sherwin-Cole, Executive Director of the Doris & Victor Day Foundation announced the Foundation has awarded grants totaling $701,000 for the current grant cycle. The grant awards to Scott and Rock Island County not-for-profit organizations and programs culminates a months-long review process. The directors strive to bring to reality the goal of Doris and Victor Day to make the Quad Cities a “better place.” Since its funding by a $10 million dollar gift from Doris Day Estate in 1987, the foundation has distributed $24.468 million dollars in grants and currently has assets of $17.5 million... Read More

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) continued its statewide “Manufacturing Matters” tour with a stop at Deere & Company to detail the results of a new economic impact study measuring the industry’s significant contributions to the state and regional economy. In Rock Island County, the study found the industry creates $4.9 billion in economic output each year, supporting almost 20 percent of the county’s economy. This includes 13,050 jobs, generating $923.9 million in salaries and benefits for working men and women in the area. In Henry County, manufacturing creates an additional... Read More

The Rock Island County Fair kicks off July 19 in East Moline! The fair has provided entertainment and education to the community for 150 years! With livestock shows, carnival rides, food, and live entertainment, there is something for everyone at the Rock Island County Fair. General admission to the 2022 Rock Island County Fair is free until 8 pm. After 8pm, tickets jump from free to $5 for adults, and $12 added admission to all of the evening grandstand attractions. For more information on this year’s festivities, call (309)796-1620 and visit RockIslandFair.org.  Read More

Amy Clark, CEO of Rock Island Housing Finance Corporation (RICHFC), a non-profit affiliate of the Greater Metropolitan Area Housing Authority of R.I. County (GMAHA) is excited to announce the recent funding awards for a new multifamily housing development and a pilot homeownership program to serve residents of Rock Island County. The announcement comes after the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) approved various funding awards at their January 2022 Board Meeting. RICHFC received an award allocation of $5,137,992 in a National Housing Trust Fund Grant and a $859,485 State Housing Fund... Read More

Project NOW has partnered with the 14th Judicial Circuit in Rock Island County, the Rock Island County Bar Association, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., and the Salvation Army to develop an Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) which has been operating for months. The goal of the program is to keep tenants housed while ensuring that small business owners are reimbursed back rent. There is $1.3 million dollars available for tenants and property owners from Project NOW. All tenants and property owners are encouraged to apply for rental assistance as soon as possible as there is a delay in the processing... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Rock Island County Health Department released alarming new numbers for covid-19 cases today. According to the department, “Due to a 46.94% increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now reports Rock Island County as having a substantial level of transmission of coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The county’s positivity rate also increased 2.59% to 6.82% over the last seven days. The number of hospital admissions also increased 50%. The CDC determines the level of transmission by... Read More

There’s been fantastic news in regard to covid cases in Illinois and the Quad-Cities! Yesterday, we reported that Genesis Health Systems was reporting no hospitalizations from covid. Today, the Rock Island County Health Department reports no new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases remains at 14,998. Currently, there are no patients hospitalized in the county with the virus. The total number of deaths remains at 333. “We are happy there are no new cases to report today,” said Nita Ludwig, administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department. “We feel that our vaccination... Read More

Covid numbers are going down in Rock Island County, but, the health department says, we must remain vigilant and use common sense to continue the numbers moving in the right direction. The Rock Island County Health Department reports the total number of deaths from the virus is now 320. In addition, the health department reports 26 new cases of COVID-19 Friday. The total number of cases is 14,737. The average age of newly infected people is 38. Currently, 23 patients are hospitalized in the county with the virus. The cases are: • 1 woman in her 70s • 2 women in their 50s • 5 women in... Read More

If you get your Covid vaccine at the Rock Island County mass vaccination clinic in Milan between April 14 and May 20, there will be something special that’s literally music to your ears. Taking inspiration from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent impromptu performance during his Covid vaccine observation period, the Rock Island County Health Department and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) are partnering to bring live music to the mass vaccination site at Camden Centre in Milan. “Vaccine Variations” is an initiative that arranges for one-hour performances by QCSO musicians starting April... Read More

And so the saga sort-of, maybe, kinda, possibly, ends. Or not. We’ll see. The Rock Island County courthouse saga has gone on for a couple of years now, with the county wanting to demolish the building and repurpose the spot just off Centennial Bridge, and a growing number of citizens calling for it to be sold to local developer Joe Lemon, who has been trying to buy it for over a year. We at QuadCities.com have covered this issue extensively, and if you want to get more of the details, I encourage you to listen to my various QCUncut podcasts of a meeting about the issue, an interview... Read More