One year ago today, the first-ever article I provided for 365ink was titled “The First 100 Days,” which began, “As people have heard me say throughout the mayoral campaign, I believe the next five years will define the next 50 for Dubuque…”  

Fast forward to the evening of March 26 when I was honored, as Dubuque’s 44th mayor, to deliver our city’s first-ever State of the City Address.  It was time for our 174-year old city to have its story told.

Little more than two decades ago the phrase “Would the last person to leave Dubuque please turn out the lights?” found its way into the news and onto T-shirts.  How did we go from that depressed condition to truly becoming the “Key City” in the state of Iowa?

A vision, supported by solid city and community leadership, partnerships, resources, good old-fashioned hard work, and yes … faith … happened!  Today, the heart of our city … historic downtown Dubuque … anchored by Bluff and Main Streets, and the Port of Dubuque, has resurrected itself, like the “phoenix,” and is full of new investments in housing, building restoration and renovation, new office space, new retail space, new commercial, educational and entertainment space.

Research shows that people are moving toward a lifestyle that allows them to live within walking distance of the amenities that enrich their lives and livelihoods. Dubuque is listening and responding in downtown Dubuque!

America’s River happened, and created jobs and gave a new face and image to Dubuque AND to the state of Iowa.  The synergy created from America’s River Phase One spurred downtown redevelopment and demonstrated our community’s ability to develop lasting partnerships between our city, county, state and federal partners, side by side with our citizens.

Expansion of business and industry in our Industrial Park West and Dubuque’s Technology Park happened!  Envision 2010 happened!  West End development happened! Tourism surged with the availability of the Grand River Center in the Port of Dubuque and the marketing acumen of our Convention & Visitors Bureau.  And, America’s River Phase Two is underway, incorporating Port of Dubuque development projects totaling over $200 million!

Our nationally recognized K-12 educational system and our higher education nucleus with no fewer than eight institutions supporting a skilled and educated workforce, happened!  Ten neighborhood associations, and counting, have become active in revitalization efforts, partnering with the city and others to help make home ownership opportunities a reality for some of the city’s lowest income families.  A community health center happened, providing affordable, client-friendly, comprehensive healthcare services for citizens who are underinsured or uninsured!

A cultural renaissance happened!  Michelangelo once said, “I saw an angel in the stone, and carved it out to set it free.”  I believe Dubuque has begun to carve its stone!  The depth and breadth of talent we have right here in Dubuque, including our artists, sculptors, musicians, actors, singers, dancers, poets and authors all serve to enhance our community’s image and vitality!

A “Green City Designation” is a city council top priority. In fact, Dubuque was chosen as one of five cities in the nation (!) to receive grant assistance to develop a “road map” so to speak, toward “conserving our way forward.”  And in building upon our past successes, we will focus on helping our new Dubuque be inspirational on a regional and national level as a community that is interesting, exciting, character-driven, rich with opportunity … or in other words … sustainable!

In 2006 and into 2007, Dubuque was recognized by the State as an “Iowa Great Place;” was recognized as one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” (in the Nation!); and locally produced Kids in the Kitchen competed against big media companies such as the National Geographic Channel, Time Warner, Cox Cable and CSPAN to win the highest award for public affairs programming … in the nation!

The quality of our city-provided services has continued to undergird life quality in Dubuque.  Citizens are the benefactors of services being provided at a much higher level, yet lower cost, than comparably sized cities in the state of Iowa.  Our city budget is being balanced and our city council priorities are being addressed.  We have clear and quantifiable goals and continue to make responsible choices based on citizen input.  Your elected officials, city manager and the team he has assembled, and all our agencies, organizations, volunteers and community leaders are working collaboratively to make Dubuque a community of choice as well as a destination community for the region!

To come full circle from my first article for the Ink last April … as your mayor, I am pleased to report that our community is well positioned to address the challenges in our future, our opportunities are endless, and the first of the “next five years has indeed served to better define the next 50 years for Dubuque!”