The City of Moline and Renew Moline Receive Economic Development Award

Posted 09/22/06

The City of Moline and Renew Moline have received the Multi-Year Economic Development Program Results Performance Award for their Project Management Team (PMT) and Design Build Management Team (DBMT) developmental process. The award, as presented by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), was presented to Ray Forsythe, Moline’s Economic Development Director and Jim Bowman, Executive Director of Renew Moline, Inc., at an awards ceremony at the annual conference in New York City, on September 19th. The City and Renew received the award for their achievements in the development process, specifically in the downtown riverfront area.

The Moline Centre PMT/DBMT is a proven model that has guided the redevelopment of a once decaying and deteriorating industrial downtown riverfront resulting in $250 million worth of public and private investments while also achieving distinctive architectural character and exceptional urban design. As a result over 1500 permanent jobs have been created and the downtown is now vibrant and alive.

This unique approach to a traditional public-private partnership between the City of Moline and Renew Moline, Inc. has placed Moline and its reemerging downtown and Mississippi Riverfront redevelopment in the forefront of downtown revitalization in the Midwest.

The Moline Centre PMT/DBMT process continues to be studied by many communities such as Joliet, IL, Broken Arrow, OK, St. Paul, MN, Waterloo, IA, Racine, WI, Peoria, IL, Fargo, ND and Morrilton (Central), AK as a strategy they can implement to improve their downtown and/or riverfront revitalization efforts.
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For more than 15 years the PMT/DBMT process has assisted developers, businesses and property owners in preparing development plans and successfully navigating the economic development assistance programs and project approval procedures while also avoiding many political and special interest issues that often plague high profile development projects.

This approach has allowed the City and its partner, Renew Moline, Inc. to challenge developers to pursue and attain higher land and building investment values while simultaneously urging them to accomplish superior quality design in their construction then they might otherwise have thought. These higher development values in turn have allowed the City to achieve enhanced public improvements such as exceptional streetscape, critical infrastructure and environmental cleanup through the efficient use of public economic development resources. These feats of normally competing interests have consistently succeeded due to a win-win negotiation environment all conducted in the offices of Renew Moline and in the absence of the scrutiny typical of public forums.

“The John Deere Commons, Radisson, The MARK of the Quad Cities, Bass Street Landing and Stoney Creek Inn are prime examples of the proven success of the PMT/DBMT process, and clearly demonstrate how the public-private partnership can successfully work together for the benefit of Moline,” said Mayor Don Welvaert. “The Mississippi River is our community’s single greatest resource. This award is a result of revitalization efforts that will continue to provide residents with greater access to Moline’s riverfront for years to come.”

“This award recognizes the hard work of many individuals over many years to perfect the process that continues to result in a community that we can all be proud of,” said Jim Bowman, Executive Director, Renew Moline, Inc.

Mr. Forsythe and Mr. Bowman will present the award to the Mayor and City Council at the regular city council meeting on Tuesday, September 26, at 7:45 pm.