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Placemaking important for attracting and retaining top talent

Dubuque, IA – Governor Kim Reynolds joined the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Dubuque for a tour of the downtown and discuss the importance of placemaking in Iowa.

During the event, Governor Reynolds heard from leaders in the business community about the value of placemaking for attracting and retaining top talent, only more prescient as businesses continue to struggle to find employees.

The term “placemaking” has been used by urban planners, landscape architects, and architects since the early 1970s. It has primarily been used as a community design and community development tool with a special focus on public spaces, such as sidewalks, rights-of-way, public squares, boulevards, parks, and recreation areas.

Mayor Roy D. Buol made opening remarks, highlighting Dubuque’s secret to success, saying “People ask why and how our City is so successful. The answer is that we are successful because we have found the secret sauce; we call it ‘people, planning and partnerships.’”

Mayor Buol went on to detail how $40 million in public money was leveraged into the following private investment:

  • $200 million to open the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Grand River Center, the Riverwalk, the River’s Edge Plaza, the Alliant Energy Amphitheater, and so much more as part of the America’s River campaign.
  • $600 million in the Port of Dubuque, the Grand River Hotel, McGraw Hill, Flexsteel Industries and the Diamond Jo.
  • $133 million to redevelop the Millwork District.

The work doesn’t stop in Dubuque though, as Ryan Peterson of RDG Planning & Design said “The vision for this project is a connected, livable community with trails from Dyersville to Dubuque, culminating on Chaplain Schmitt Island. With these trails, we connect people to place and create a welcoming environment for everyone in the community to enjoy every day.”

Molly Grover, President & CEO of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce continued, “Now is the time to reinvest in public private partnerships that propel the state forward. As the state continues to struggle with workforce attraction and retention, we must create cool, fun, vibrant communities for the next generation to make their own. Now more than ever, we have a real opportunity to make a positive impact on the culture and future of the Great State of Iowa”.

According to a CEO’s of Cities report, Two-thirds of highly mobile 25- to 34-year-olds with college degrees say that they will decide where they live first, then look for a job.

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