Join us for the DRA Grant Kickoff Reception at Diamond Jo Casino on Tuesday, April 4! This event is your chance to learn about the exciting grant opportunities available in 2023. RSVP by March 24 at https://bit.ly/3Jn05tv #withDRA
Congratulations to the Monticello Community School District on receiving a $10,000 grant from the DRA to support their school literacy needs!
We are proud to have contributed to the improvement of student achievement in reading by helping the district update their reading curriculum with the most recent and best materials available. We are confident that this investment will have a positive impact on the students of Monticello for years to come, and we are honored to have played a role in their success.
Keep up the great work! #withDRA #Education
We are thrilled to announce that the Dubuque Jaycees were awarded a $25,000 grant from the DRA to support their 3rd of July Fireworks and Air Show!
This community event not only raises the profile of Dubuque as a major destination for a place to "live, work, & play," but also serves to enhance the local community's participation in honoring and celebrating the anniversary of our nation's independence.
Thank you for all that you do to make Dubuque a great place to live and visit! #withDRA #CommunityEvent #IndependenceDay #LiveWorkPlayDubuque
As the license holder for gaming operations at Q Casino and the co-licensee for Diamond Jo Casino, the DRA contributed over $9 million to the City of Dubuque in 2022! #togetherwecan #with DRA
We're thrilled to announce that in 2022, the Dubuque Arts Council received a $10,000 grant from the DRA to fund an incredible project featuring Ball in the House, an acapella group of 5 talented men from Boston. Through this project, an Artist in Residence program was established in elementary schools throughout the Tri-State area, giving students the opportunity to experience live professional music programming. We're proud to have supported such an impactful initiative and look forward to seeing the positive effects it has on the community. #withDRA #musiceducation
Congratulations to the City of Dubuque for being awarded $3,000,000 for the construction of an open-air amphitheater on Schmitt Island! This new addition is sure to provide a beautiful and unique outdoor venue for residents and visitors to enjoy a variety of performances and events. We can't wait to see this project come to life and enhance the cultural offerings of the city. #SchmittIsland #CommunityEnrichment
Big thanks again to the Diamond Jo Casino for hosting our February DRA Board Meeting! We appreciate your hospitality and look forward to future events at the Diamond Jo.
Congratulations to Q Casino and Diamond Jo Casino on getting their license renewed with the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission! It's a testament to their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for all their patrons. Here's to many more years of success and fun!
Exciting news! The DRA board has approved a proposal for Iowa-based RDG Planning & Design to develop a comprehensive development plan for Schmitt Island, a city-owned property on the Mississippi River. This is a significant investment of $302,660 by the organization, and the plan should be completed within the next 12 months.
We're looking forward to seeing the positive impact this development will have on our community and the Mississippi River. #SchmittIsland #MississippiRiver #CommunityDevelopment
Please join us in welcoming Mike Donohue as the new Board Chair for the DRA! Mike has been part of the DRA Board of Directors since 2014. Outside of the DRA, he is the CEO for Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging. With his extensive experience and leadership skills, Mike will be a valuable asset to the organization and we are thrilled to have him on board. Let's give him a warm welcome as we look forward to the exciting initiatives he'll lead.
The DRA had the opportunity to host the Schmitt Island Development Corporation (SID Corp) Board of Directors for their quarterly meeting.
SID Corp is fortunate to have an exceptional group of individuals who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. Their guidance and leadership will play a critical role in shaping the direction and implementation of development on Schmitt Island.
We look forward to working together to continue to innovate, grow, and make a positive impact in our community!
The DRA is thrilled to announce the Q Casino renovation and expansion project to create a better experience for our employees and guests! This investment fits into a bigger plan to develop Schmitt Island, that goes to the heart of who we are as a city, and what we offer to locals and visitors.
We're grateful for the leadership and dedication of Kevin Lynch, who served as the Board Chair of the DRA for the past two years. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and support.
Thank you for including the DRA in the 2022 YP Symposium. We love to share our stories and inspire Young Professionals to get involved in our community!
Congratulations to UW-Platteville on your 2022 Core Grant award!
Through the DRA Mission Grant program, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce received an award for $125,000 to Restore, Recruit and Retain Local Commercial Air Service Campaign. The announcement of Avelo's nonstop service to Orlando is only the beginning of the campaign to bring air service back to Dubuque. Welcome to Dubuque Avelo!
Congratulations to our friends with Go the Distance Baseball, LLC on your groundbreaking in Dyersville. Thank you for investing in our community! We look forward to many good times to come!
The final Mission Grant award recipients for 2022:
Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA | $160,000
Hills & Dales | $100,000
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque | $100,000
Crescent Community Health | $125,000
Loras, Clarke, & University of Dubuque | $200,000
Congratulations to our most recent Mission Grant Recipients!
Dubuque County Historical Society/National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium | $50,000/year for 3-years
St. Mark Youth Enrichment | $125,000
Habitat for Humanity | $200,000
United Way | $75,000
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque | $100,000
DRA staff visited UW-Platteville and had the opportunity to share our story with the students. We handed out t-shirts too!
Congrats to our 2022 DRA Grant Recipients!
Newly released Schmitt Island renderings
DRA announces Core Grant recipients at July Full Board meeting.
Congrats to our friends and neighbors in Southwest Wisconsin who were awarded a 2022 Core Grant. Thanks to Platteville City Manager, Adam Ruechel (2nd from right), Erik Flesch, The Mining and Rollo Jamison Museums (Middle) and Angela Wright, Grant Writer, and active community volunteer (Far Right) for making the drive to attend the announcement last week! #WithDRA
Kathy Buhr (DRA/Director of Strategic Philanthropy and Schmitt Island Development), Wendy Runde (Diamond Jo/Vice President & GM), Lisa Potter (Diamond Jo) and Jennifer Theide (Diamond Jo)
City Council Members visit Schmitt Island!
Alex & Kathy visited our friends over at Hills & Dales!
DRA Donates to Dyersville Inc Events
Kathy Buhr (DRA/Q Casino) and Wendy Runde (Diamond Jo Casino) present check to Dyersville Inc Events.
The Dubuque Jaycees were presented with a $25,000 check to support the annual July 3rd Fireworks & Air Show Spectacular.
DRA & Q Casino team volunteering at the Dubuque Regional Humane Society
DRA & Q Casino team at the Southwest Health Golf Outing.
International Center for Responsible Gaming appoints Alex Dixon (President & CEO of DRA/Q Casino) to its Governing Board.
Alex and Kathy stopped by the River Museum to check out their Rivers to the Sea 2.0 Exhibit and 3D Theatre.
Kathy and Alex stopped down to the Fountain of Youth's open house. Caprice got to explain some of the wonderful things he's doing to help the community.
The Road Show led Kathy & Will to Platteville. We got to present who the DRA is and what we do, We also got to hear about all the wonderful things the Optimist Club does as well.
Alex (President & CEO of DRA), Wendy (GM of Diamond Jo Casino), and Kevin Lynch (DRA Board Chair) guest bartending for tips at Steeple Square on 5.25
The team took some time out of their busy schedules to plant some trees with Dubuque Trees Forever.
Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manger for the City of Dubuque, leading a walking tour of Schmitt Island following the April DRA Board of Directors meeting.
Latest check to the City of Dubuque. Given in February 2022.
DRA Board at the 2022 Retreat
$1 Billion+ economic impact in the Dubuque area since 1985.
Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility, funded with the help of a $750,000 contribution by the DRA
In 2008, the Diamond Jo Casino opened an $84 million land-based casino. As the QSO for Diamond Jo Casino, the DRA is responsible for distributing funds received from them back into the community.
In 2005, Dubuque Greyhound Park & Casino completed a $33 million renovation, more than doubling the casino size from 11,675 sq/ft to 29,600 sq/ft.
The Dubuque Greyhound Park opened for it’s first day of live racing on June 1, 1985. A typical day at the races included a full parking lot, including an average of 20-30 buses, with the record being 48 buses in a single day of racing!
As the nation’s first and only nonprofit greyhound race track, the Dubuque Greyhound Park had it’s inaugural day and ribbon cutting on June 1, 1985.
Iconic “Come Out And Play!” slogan and graphic for the Greyhound Park.
Construction begins of the Dubuque Greyhound Park.
First DRA Board
Concept and scaled model of the Dubuque Racing Association Greyhound Track. Members of the community went door-to-door with this campaign to “Back The Track”.