Nearly 3,500 Iowans became new homeowners in 2007 with the assistance of the Iowa Finance Authority's low-interest loan program FirstHome. The program offers qualified first-time home-buyers affordable mortgage financing with a low, fixed interest rate and charges no discount points or origination fees. In calendar year 2007, a record 3,485 Iowans used FirstHome. This was an increase of nearly 500 loans from 2006 and was almost 1,000 loans greater than in 2005. In Scott County, 217 loans were closed for a total of more than $20 million. For more information, look at (http://www.iowafinanceauthority.gov ).

 

The Public Works Department of the City of East Moline has been cleaning out the historic Strand Theatre, 1006 15th Avenue, as part of the effort to improve and clean up the downtown. The city has received a $99,000 grant from the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development for partial renovation of the building. Repairs to the exterior wall and roof have been completed, and work on the front façade will commence as weather permits. All of this work, including the cleanup, is an effort to make the building marketable to a private developer for renovation.

 

Niabi Zoo has openings for volunteers. An informational meeting on Thursday, January 17, at 7 p.m. will answer questions about the volunteer program. The meeting will be held in the Kohler Discovery Center on the zoo grounds. Zoo volunteers help with educational programs, landscaping, diet preparation, and special events, among other things. No experience is required. Volunteers must be 18 years of age. Individuals who cannot attend the meeting can also volunteer by submitting the volunteer application, which is available at (http://niabizoo.com), or by calling the zoo education department at (309) 799-3482.

 

The Artists Advisory Council, a volunteer organization within the Figge Art Museum, will host an exhibition at The Arts Café at the Figge, a new gallery opening in the dining area of the museum. The exhibition Mississippi Flyway will complement the Audubon show coming to the Figge in February. Artists who live within 150 miles of the Quad Cities are invited to submit up to five works for consideration. Artwork will be selected by judges representing MidCoast Fine Arts, Quad City Arts, and the Figge Art Museum. The submission deadline is January 9. For details about submission formats and the exhibition, contact Arts Café Chair Heidi M. Sallows at at (309) 781-2891 or (hmms33@yahoo.com).

 

In an effort to create a regional approach to talent attraction and retention, the Young Professionals Network of the Quad Cities (YPN), an initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, and DavenportOne's neXt Professionals will be merging into one organization. All area young professionals are invited to join in the first combined YPN/neXt event Thursday, January 17, at Centre Station in downtown Moline at 5:30 p.m. A celebratory event for the unveiling of the new young professionals organization is tentatively scheduled for April 3.

 

The board of directors of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has announced a reorganizaton of its office and visitor center. It will establish one office for all professional staff at the RiverStation, 1601 River Drive in downtown Moline. Also, it will partner with the City of Davenport and the Davenport Levee Commission to improve the current visitor center on the first floor of Union Station to become a full-service visitor center. And it will partner with the City of Rock Island to manage the Centennial Bridge Visitors Center, expected to open in May 2008.

 

Last week, the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation broke ground on the long-anticipated McKesson Lofts at 110 19th Street. The $6.6-million mixed-use redevelopment project is in the heart of downtown Rock Island. Built in 1914, this 60,000-square-foot former warehouse has sat vacant for eight years. Redevelopment of the building has been on the drawing board for four years. The vision for McKesson Lofts is a mixed-use facility that incorporates environmentally friendly concepts suitable for residential living and high-tech commercial use. Completion of the first and second floors is anticipated in October 2008, with the entire project complete by September 2009.

 

The City of Davenport Historic Preservation Commission, in conjunction with the City of Davenport Design Center, has published a guide to the city's 17 historic districts. The map includes descriptions and photographs of historic structures, as well as the locations of the districts. The maps are free and available at many city offices. If you would like multiple copies for distribution, contact or visit the Design Center at 102 East Second Street, across from the Radisson.

 

 

Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich recently announced $1.5 million in bicycle-path grants for communities in northern Illinois. The City of Rock Island received $200,000 to construct 1.2 miles of trail starting at Ben Williamson Park and ending at 31st Avenue.

LeClaire's new downtown is finished, and the city is attempting to set a world record for the longest ribbon-cutting to celebrate. The event will be held at the MedicEMS building, 107 North Cody Road, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 18. There will be food, fireworks, kids' activities, a $1,000-LeClaire-shopping-spree drawing, and live music by Blue Fuzzy Monkey. For more information: call (563) 289-9970 or visit (http://www.leclairechamber.com).

 

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