FY24 Successes
Downtown Bettendorf Organization’s list of accomplishments during FY24 (July 2023-June 2024) include new and expanded businesses, façade grants for building improvements, increased beautification efforts and a new downtown master plan.
- DBO awarded $51,776 in façade and building improvement grants to 4 businesses, leveraging $362,173 in private investment.
- 6 new businesses opened in downtown Bettendorf including D’Lua Tequila Bar & Restaurant (opening this October), Evolution Martial Arts, Organic Ends, Siam Thai Cafe, The Beauty Vault and a new bar (yet to be named), coming to 1740 State St. Verde, which was closed for several months, also re-opened this spring.
- Beautification efforts continued downtown with plans to explore updates on Grant Street and to create a mural across from City Hall. Further development is anticipated on the West side of the bridge including a facelift for Leach Park and public/private investment near the urban park and river.
- Several successful events and promotions helped drive traffic to downtown Bettendorf including the Deck the Downtowns holiday promotion last November and December, “Be Downtown” in June, the 4th of July Parade, the Alternating Currents festival in August and other social media campaigns spotlighting downtown businesses.
“Downtown Bettendorf will continue to ride the momentum created by the new I-74 Bridge,” Jantzi noted. “We are excited for the soon-to-be-announced West Bridge Project located in the footprint of the old I-74 Bridge. This project will involve new construction of multi-residential, commercial and entertainment space in the core of our downtown. This investment will attract new residents, businesses and visitors to the heart of our city, and will be an activator for our urban park under the I-74 Bridge. The Downtown Bettendorf renaissance continues,” he said.