Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
INDUSTRY INDUCEMENTS
INDUSTRY INDUCEMENTS. In 2015 and for many years before, residents of Dubuque were aware of inducements industries were given for establishing their companies in Dubuque. Such inducements as tax holidays, free or reduced priced land, or financial assistance made coming to Dubuque popular. Dubuque was also in competition with other communities which also offered attractive offers.
The earliest interest in developing this inducement policy was found in this editorial of 1873:
Our city council will consider and be persuaded into granting petitions for grants of city property and right-of-way privileges for the benefit of railroad corporations, but we have never heard any discussion in the municipal body on the subject of encouraging manufacturers to Dubuque. Railroads are a great help to our city and brighten our commercial prospects, but they are not a greater advantage than manufacturers would be if rightly sustained with capital and enter- prise. There are plenty of capitalists in eastern cities who would not hesitate to heavily invest in manufacturing projects at this point if our city government would wake up a little to the importance of the subject and offer inducements.... (1)
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Source:
1. "Encourage Manufacturers," Dubuque Herald, March 25, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730325&printsec=frontpage&hl=en