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Economic development department seeks staff for TIF oversight as housing and Central Avenue projects advance
Summary
Economic development staff told the council they are pursuing housing creation, childcare expansion and downtown revitalization and recommended adding a full‑time position to manage an expanding portfolio of TIF agreements.
Jill Grover (presenting as economic development director) and Ian Hatch summarized the Economic Development Department’s FY26 work, highlighting housing production, small business grant programs, childcare initiatives and downtown revitalization efforts.
Grover explained the city uses tax increment financing (TIF) extensively to leverage private investment and cited figures showing $154 million in public investment generating roughly $1.1 billion in private investment over 30 years of TIF projects. She described recent development agreements that produced 158 new rental units and that the department had entered 15 development agreements and one grant agreement in the past year.
Staff highlighted a number of priorities: continuing downtown housing creation through the Greater Downtown Housing Creation Grant; a Central Avenue corridor revitalization focusing on housing and storefront rehabilitation with coordinated stakeholder support (public improvements, beautification, security and communications); and support for childcare capacity and workforce development, including the Bright Minds learning campus expansion (phase 2 beginning soon). Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and Dubuque Initiatives were described as prominent local partners for financing and loans for small business and childcare projects.
Grover and Ian Hatch proposed a new full‑time “financial project specialist” position to provide day‑to‑day oversight of TIF agreements, ensure compliance, produce financial projections, and coordinate among economic development, finance and planning. City CFO Jennifer Larson told council she supports the position and noted much of TIF accounting work currently falls to financial staff. Council members asked about legislative risk to the TIF tool (pending state proposals discussed in session); City Manager Mike Van Milligen said the council would have certainty about any legislative change before July 1 and that, if state law changed significantly, the city would return with budget amendments and options.
Other items: staff reported about 2,400 housing units in some stage of development across the city, summarized a small‑business support grant program and a new follow‑up program for past grantees, and described a proposed alley‑lighting CIP for Central Avenue. Council discussion included requests for clarity about financing sources for alley lighting and concerns about ensuring private partners and businesses share responsibility for corridor marketing and beautification.
No formal votes were taken on the TIF oversight position during the hearing; councilmembers discussed the proposal and asked staff to return with details as the FY26 budget is finalized.
