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Awards & Accolades
Dubuque Named ‘Most Livable’ Small City in U.S.
2008

Dubuque was named as the ‘Most Livable” Small City by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 2008 Livability Awards Program during the USCM Annual Meeting. Dubuque’s application featured the America’s River project and the public/private partnerships and community involvement that transformed the Port of Dubuque into a destination that captures the historical, environmental, educational and recreational majesty of the Mississippi River.
View media release (USCM)
View media release (City of Dubuque)

Best Communities for Musical Education
2008

NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)named the Dubuque Community School District as one of 110. The survey took into account, funding, enrollment, student/teacher ratios,music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, private music lesson participation, and other relevant factors in each communities’ music education programs. “We commend these school districts for their commitment to assuring that music is part of a complete education for children,” said Mary Luehrsen, executive director, NAMM Foundation. “It takes the commitment of an entire community to assure that music is part of the core curriculum. Children engaged in music will be the innovation leaders of tomorrow, and there is no better way to build life-long participation in music than with a solid base of music education.”
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Best Green Places
2008
Country Home Magazine's Best Green Places report analyzed hundreds of cities on key points, such as official energy policies, green power, green buildings, and the availability of fresh, locally grown food.
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100 Best Communities for Youth
2008
For Dubuque's commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. The national competition included applicants from hundreds of communities in all 50 states. 1 of 100.
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All-America City
2007
Dubuque named on of 10. The All-America City award title is the oldest and most prestigious civic recognition competition in the United States. The winners were selected in part for their ability to engage a broad cross section of the community, including youth, business leaders, elected officials, city staff and nonprofit groups in civic dialogues leading to tangible results.

Best Cities & Boom Towns
2007
Dubuque ranks 22nd out of 393. With perennial favorites like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and eight metro areas in Florida, Dubuque is the only Iowa city listed in the overall U.S. Top 25. Moreover, Dubuque is the only Midwest city in the entire U.S. Top 25 rankings.

Best Small Places for Business
2007
Dubuque ranks 15th out of 179 cities and is the smallest city in the U.S. Top 15 list. In addition to population, Dubuque also varies from 11 of the 15 cities that host a major, State-sponsored university, In the same Forbes Magazine report, Dubuque’s rank for job-growth led all other Iowa cities, according to the magazine’s five-year, annualized figures.

Biggest Mover
2007
Inc. Magazine described Dubuque as the “biggest mover” on the Best Cities & Boomtown rankings among smaller cities.

"10 Low-cost locales where jobs are plenty."
2008
Dubuque was named 1 of 10. MSN Real Estate focused on areas with a low cost of living, good job prospects and a high quality of life.

100 Best Communities for Youth
2007
For Dubuque's commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. The national competition included applicants from hundreds of communities in all 50 states. 1 of 100.
View media release

5-Star Public School
2007
Dubuque was 1 of 72 cities that were designated as 5-Star out of a total of 383 cities nationwide. Considerations include college entrance exam scores, graduation rates, teacher salaries, per pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, median household income, adult education levels, and child poverty rate.

5-Star Quality of Life Metro
2007
Dubuque placed in the top 20 percent (72 out of 383) of all cities studied, thus receiving the 5-Star designation. Evaluation is based on affordable housing, a quality public school system, low crime levels, adult education levels, standard of living, traffic, commuting, continuing education opportunities, commercial air access, and the labor market.

Top Job Growth
2006
Moody’s/Economy.com ranked Dubuque 22nd in the U.S. for job growth, ahead of giant cities like Dallas and Orlando.

Iowa Great Place
2006
Dubuque was named as 1 of 6. Iowa Great Places have: a unique sense of place; engaging experiences; a rich, diverse social fabric; a vital, creative economy; a pleasing environment; a strong foundation; and a creative culture.

Urban Pioneer Award
2006
Recognition of Dubuque’s 20-year commitment to the revitalization of the city’s center.

5-Star Quality of Life Metro
2006
Dubuque was recognized as 1 of 73 cities. Rankings were determined by nine major categories: affordable housing, good public schools, peace of mind, a balanced standard of living, broad opportunities for adult education, reasonable traffic and commuting, good commercial air access, a high adult education level and, from an employer’s perspective, a young, reasonably-priced work force from which to find good employees.

Easiest Commute to Work
2006
Dubuque ranked 4th out of 362 cities analyzed.

U.S. Top 25 for Job growth
2006
The rankings reflect the actual job growth rates of 387 U.S. cities between 2005 and the present.

Best Places for Doing Business in America
2005
Inc. Magazine recognized cities large, medium, and small where job growth is robust and economies are strong.

Phoenix Award
2005
EPA Region 7 Winner. Dubuque received the recognition for excellence in Brownfield Redevelopment for the America's River Project.

10 Great Places to Discover Midwest Charm
2005
Based on the Port of Dubuque and its amenities, friendly community, recreation, and historic sites.

Dozen Distinctive Places
2005
Dubuque was selected as 1 of 12 from nearly 80 destinations in 44 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations and local communities. Annual list promotes heritage tourism.

Top 20 Metros for Best Public Schools
2005
Dubuque named 1 of 20.

Five-Star Community
2005
Dubuque named 1 out of 50.

Quality of Life Quotient
2005
6th nationwide. Quotient takes into account the preferred lifestyle of the majority of the country’s workforce and places emphasis on issues of importance to the average American such as affordable housing, good schools and low crime rates.

Best Development Award
2005
Awarded for the America’s River Project.

Achievement in Economic Development
2004
Awarded for the America’s River Project.

All-Star Community Award
2004
Awarded for the America’s River Project.

America's Crown Communities
2003
Awarded to cities and counties that have solved everyday problems in unique ways, achieving outstanding results.

Honorable Mention Partnership Award
2003
Awarded for the Americas River partnership.



Greater Dubuque Development | 300 Main Street, Suite 120 | Dubuque, IA 52001 | 563.557.9049