The characteristics we enjoy daily, such as the riverfront and historical architecture are features that make our city unique to any other city in the world. Dubuque has made tremendous strides over the past decades to accentuate its treasures and create a vibrant community and economy. While certain neighborhoods of our city shine bright, pockets of neglect remain and demand attention. That’s where Dubuque Initiatives comes in. Dubuque Initiatives invests in opportunities for sustainable development and redevelopment where funding is lacking. Once an investment is recuperated, the funds are reinvested in the next undertaking. The initial seed money for Dubuque Initiatives was received from a federal grant in 1980. This seed money has blossomed into several projects and has served to propel our community by providing jobs, tax revenue, and industrial diversity. Many bright spots in our community wouldn’t exist without Dubuque Initiatives including the riverfront development, the Roshek Building, our industrial parks and the millwork Historic Millwork District.