Greater Dubuque briefing: Cascade manufacturers report rising sales and plans to expand
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Summary
Dan McDonald of Greater Dubuque Development told the Cascade City Council that 11 manufacturers the group interviewed employ about 700 people locally and that roughly 64% said they planned to expand operations; workforce, housing and childcare were cited as top barriers.
Dan McDonald, a representative of Greater Dubuque Development, told the Cascade City Council on Dec. 15 that consultants interviewed 11 Cascade-area manufacturers and related businesses and found that those firms together employ about 700 people in the city.
McDonald said the majority of firms reported higher sales compared with prior years and that about 64% of companies surveyed indicated plans to expand — a definition he said covered adding to a facility, buying new machinery or otherwise investing in modernization rather than simply standing pat. “Those 11 companies collectively employ about 700 people in Cascade,” McDonald said. “We're not losing business. In fact, we're probably gaining business.”
Why it matters: Local manufacturers are a core employer group in Cascade. McDonald told the council that while sales and market share are generally healthy, firms consistently named workforce shortages, housing availability and childcare as constraints to growth. He urged the city to prioritize amenities, workforce upskilling programs and childcare to help attract and retain employees.
Council members asked for clarification on what the study counted as an expansion and how the data were gathered; McDonald said the group conducted one-on-one interviews and that the survey excluded retail and service firms. He also advised the council to consider investments that make the community attractive to potential workers, including arts, recreation and childcare.
The briefing was informational only; McDonald distributed copies of the report to the council and the public. No city action was required at the meeting.
