In 1971, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of 385 acres knowntoday as the Dubuque Industrial Park West. It was estimated the site could “accommodate 30 industries, which would provide jobs for 2,000 persons and an annual payroll in excess of $10
million.” The project was the reason for the formation of Dubuque Initiatives, then known as Dubuque In-Futuro. Dubuque Initiatives purchased the land and made it available to the City of Dubuque and interested businesses. Today, the industrial park is full and home to over a dozen
businesses, providing access to four-lane arterials in and out of the city of Dubuque. The success of the project paved the way for future development in the city.