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