Bi-State Regional Commission

May 24, 2017 – As part of the Bi-State Regional Commission agency budgeting process, staff annually prepare the Transportation Planning Work Programs (TPWPs) for the Quad Cities metropolitan planning area (MPA) and Region 9, serving rural Scott County and Muscatine County.  The TPWPs reflect staff work/tasks/activities for the upcoming fiscal year 2018, and include budgets for transportation planning short and long-range activities, delineating federal, state, and local planning funds.  Activities include staffing transportation meetings, technical assistance, such as grant writing and traffic or trail studies/analysis, as well as the development of various modal planning and transportation funding programming.  These activities represent nearly 50% of the Bi-State Regional Commission budget as a whole, and are supported with matching funds from membership dues.

May 24, 2017 – As part of a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bi-State Regional Commission hosted a 2-hour workshop on May 23, 2017 at the Bettendorf Library to showcase opportunities to incorporate more walkable, bikable, and accessible streets within our region.  Representatives from the Active Transportation Alliance spoke on the benefits and myths about what it means to be a “Complete Street.”  The non-profit is based in Chicago and advocates creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities by advancing walking, bicycling, and transit use in communities.

Benefits of Complete Streets include opportunities for increased physical activity and better air quality by shifting people from cars.  There is an inclusiveness when children, older adults, and those with disabilities can go places without travel barriers.  More people out bicycling and walking are “eyes on the street” and provide a social, community aspect where people can meet and interact.

May 24, 2017 – The Quad City Health Initiative and Bi-State Regional Commission have received the “Trails for Health Award” from American Trails in recognition of the Be Healthy QC Coalition and QCTrails.org.  The Trails for Health Award recognizes a community’s commitment to improving access to trails and promoting their use and importance for increasing physical activity.

The award was announced at American Trails’ 23rd International Trails Symposium held in Dayton, Ohio in May.  The National and International Trails Awards Program is one way American Trails recognizes the tremendous contributions and successes of exemplary people across the globe who are working to advance trails.  American Trails is the only national nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail types.

July 2017 – Illinois Public Acts 97-905 and 98-109 were passed in 2012 and 2013 by the Illinois General Assembly.  These laws combine to make significant changes to the way enterprise zones are awarded and administrated in Illinois.  Enterprise zones were first established in Illinois in 1983 to stimulate economic growth by providing tax incentives and regulatory relief to businesses opening or expanding in specially designated areas.  To date, 97 enterprise zones have been authorized by the State of Illinois.

Click below for the 2016 Quad Cities Enterprise Zone Application

FINAL QC 2016 EZ APP 81 MB.pdf

April 26, 2017 –   Bi-State Regional Commission offers their member governments a variety of services relating to grant activity.  Services include assisting with writing grants, reviewing grant applications, providing adequate resources, developing a “letter of concurrence” providing Bi-State Regional Commission’s support for a particular project, and distributing notifications to member governments about upcoming grant opportunities.  There are a number of grant opportunities available on the federal, state, and local levels in different fields such as transportation, public health, public safety, environmental planning, public works, economic development, and housing.  For an updated list of available grants and the maximum amount that may be requested, click here.

April 26, 2017 –   Laura Berkley, Senior Planner, presented the final draft of the Bi-State Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2017 Progress Report that had been distributed at the March 22, 2017 meeting to Commissioners for review and provided to the public on the Bi-State website.  Minor comments were received through the 30-day review regarding economic development related projects as noted in the projects list.  Commissioners approved a resolution to adopt the 2017 CEDS Progress Report, and the report was submitted to the Economic Development Administration.  

April 26, 2017 –   Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood.  Amber Wood, Executive Director of the American Red Cross for the Quad Cities and West Central Illinois said the Red Cross must collect 14,000 donations every day for patients in need.  While 80 percent of donations are collected at blood drives close to where people work and live, the blood Red Cross collects is distributed throughout the United States.  Red Cross blood is part of the National Inventory with a lower loss rate than any blood bank in the United States.  All Red Cross units donated find a recipient.  Red cross blood has the ability to spread needed units to areas of urgency such as the Florida night club shooting.  Red Cross blood is also the official secondary provider to the United States Military.

April 26, 2017 – Bi-State will offer training on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meeting Act (OMA) for Illinois member governments on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at the Hampton Heritage Center, 251 South State Avenue, Hampton, IL 61256.  A brief presentation on Bi-State Regional Commission services will be given followed by a presentation on FOIA and OMA.  Each presentation will be 45 minutes long.
Please RSVP by Monday, May 29, 2017 by contacting Executive Director Denise Bulat.  A light meal will be served.

March 22, 2017 –  The CEDS, or Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, is updated fully every 5 years and updated as a progress report in the interim years.  Since the last full CEDS was completed in 2016, Laura Berkley, Senior Planner, presented information on the 2017 CEDS Progress Report.  She reported that the Gross Regional Product was up to $19.54 million (in 2015 dollars), which is the most recent data available.  Unemployment is down, but the workforce is also shrinking.  According to economic modeling software JobsEQ, overall jobs are projected to increase by less than 1% by 2021, with Health Care and Social Assistance; Construction; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services being the sectors with the largest growth.

April 7, 2017 –  We can’t wait for spring—and here’s why! On Saturday, April 8, 2017, people across the country will celebrate the nation’s fifth annual Opening Day for Trails.

Opening Day for Trails is a national event organized by the Rails to Trails Conservancy to encourage people across the country to officially kick off spring by hitting their favorite pathways.

Whether you’ve been out on the trail all year long, or have been waiting for warmer weather, Opening Day is a great way to officially kick off the season and explore trails!

In the Quad Cities Area, you can find opportunities for physical activity on over 75 trails using the free, user-friendly, interactive, and mobile-responsive website, QCTrails.org.