Moline's Centre Station, located across from the i wireless Center in downtown Moline, has been recommended as the Quad Cities Amtrak Station. Based on this recommendation - part of a recently completed Metropolitan Rail Study - the proposed Amtrak route would start at Centre Station and end at Chicago's Union Station. The City of Moline will move forward in developing plans for the station. The Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition is advocating on behalf of the region for restored passenger-rail service. Amtrak service from Chicago to the Quad Cities is the linchpin for an extended route being planned to Iowa City and Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. More information about the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition is available at QCRail.com.

The Riverboat Development Authority Board of Directors approved $978,500 in grants to local organizations on November 19. A total of 48 grants were awarded to 44 different applicants. Among the largest recipients were the River Music Experience ($60,000 for "support for growth/expansion"), United Neighbors Inc. ($60,000 for Summer Park program), Davenport's Levee Improvement Commission ($50,000 for Union Station visitor center), DavenportOne Foundation ($40,000 for D1 Initiative), and the Family Museum of Arts & Science Foundation ($35,000 for QC Great Places Initiative). For more information on the Riverboat Development Authority, visit RiverboatAuthority.com. - Ashley Allen

The City of Davenport is hosting three public forums for the community to learn more about the work of the Promise Task Force and its recommendations to the city. The Davenport Promise program would provide college tuition, vocational training, or a post-military-service homestead grant to Davenport residents after high school. The forums are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, in the Genesis East Adler Educational Center (inside the Heart Institute Building); 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, at the Davenport downtown library; and 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Central High School in Davenport. For more information, visit DavenportSchools.org and click on "Davenport Promise."

Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert has incorporated a new feature into city-council meetings. Called Update Rock Island, the mayor will spend five minutes at the beginning of council meetings to publicize community news. Items could include new programs and initiatives in the city, awards, new businesses and expansions, and community events. A video will be available Tuesdays following council meetings on the city's Web site (RIGov.org) and public-access cable channel 9. A written summary will be available on the Web site and sent to local media. To receive the information via e-mail, sign up at RIGov.org/enews.html.