DAVENPORT, IOWA (November 12, 2025) — The Quad Cities has been named Technology Community of the Year by the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) at the 20th Annual Prometheus Awards, held Thursday, November 6, in Des Moines.
The award was accepted by Peter Tokar III, President and CEO of Grow Quad Cities and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, and Brian Irby, COO of Grow Quad Cities and the Chamber. Also representing the Quad Cities were Kyle Gripp, Alderman-at-Large for the City of Davenport, and Andy Zimmerman PhD CTO, Grace Technologies. The prestigious honor was presented by Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Over the past few years, the Quad Cities has made major advancements in technology and innovation. The QC is a 100% fiber community, where internet service providers have can provide a fiber-optic network directly to every home and business, providing high-speed, reliable internet access. The region launched and expanded the Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center in Davenport, a facility employing more than 2,000 people and operating with 4,000 robots. It’s also home to John Deere’s Tech Innovation Center, where teams are driving the future of agriculture through digital technology and more than 500,000 connected machines. Meanwhile, small-business innovators like Grace Technologies are gaining national attention — their Wearable Voltage Detector was named Product of the Year for making workplaces safer.
“This recognition reflects the incredible collaboration happening across the Quad Cities region,” said Tokar. “From global industry giants to homegrown innovators, our region's technology ecosystem is thriving. Our community is working closely with education partners like Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and the Quad Cities Manufacturing Institute to build a strong technology base that drives innovation, creates jobs, and enhances economic opportunity. We’re grateful to Debi Durham, the Technology Association of Iowa, and everyone who helps spotlight innovation across our state, and we congratulate all the outstanding companies and communities recognized this year."
For two decades, the Prometheus Awards have celebrated the best in Iowa technology and innovation. The annual event brings together technology innovators, industry leaders, educators and public officials from across the state to recognize outstanding achievements that strengthen Iowa’s innovation ecosystem. This year marked a record number of nominations across fifteen categories, with winners chosen by a panel of distinguished technology leaders from across Iowa.
"As Technology Community of the Year, the Quad Cities joins a select group of Iowa communities recognized for advancing innovation and growing the state’s tech economy," said Irby. "From the launch of new tech startups to investments in digital infrastructure and talent development, it's exciting to see how our region continues to demonstrate its leadership in building a future-ready economy."
