Annual Report

S. Joanne M. Burrows, SC
2009-2010 Chairperson
Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation

In a recent conversation with our Executive Director, Rick Dickinson, we discussed the accomplishments of the past year and Rick described it simply as a "Year of Delivery." And so it was.

I have always struggled with the false notion that we can achieve anything by wishing it so. Dream it, believe you can do it, and "Poof!" you achieve it. Wear your cause on a brightly colored flexible bracelet and it will happen. My experience, on the other hand, tells me that "hit and run epiphanies," those seemingly spontaneous moments of accomplishments are rare, if ever occurring events. The hard truth is that most promises are delivered on the heels of countless hours of listening, planning and acting. Consider the following:

Delivered - National Marketing. Business Facilities Magazine selected the Dubuque/IBM project as the "Economic Development Deal of the Year" and Site Selection Magazine honored the IBM project as a "Top Deal of 2009." The National Marketing program is headed up by Mike Blouin, President.

Delivered - Job Growth. Forbes Magazine selects Dubuque as #1 in projected job growth of all cities under 250,000 population.

Delivered - Business Retention and Expansion. The International Economic Development Council selected Greater Dubuque's InfoAction program, headed up by Dan McDonald, Vice President of Existing Business, as one of the Top 5 Business Retention and Expansion programs in the U.S.

Delivered - Workforce. Sarah Harris, Vice President of Workforce Operations leads in the creation of Dubuque Works, a national model for how communities can work together to retain, recruit and develop the workforce that we need.

Greater Dubuque Development through its investors, board members and staff has listened, planned and acted to meet the bold goals and objectives of the Destination for Opportunity campaign.

It has been my pleasure to serve as your Chairperson this past year. It has truly been a "Year of Delivery."

Sincerely,

S. Joanne M. Burrows, SC
Chairperson, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation

Annual Reports

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