Renew Moline was established in 1989 as the Midwest was rebounding from an agricultural depression that severely affected the Quad Cities ultimately costing more than 23,000 jobs and causing a corresponding decrease in population. The riverfront and downtown business districts on both the Iowa and Illinois sides of the River were devastated by the loss of merchants, residents, and pedestrian traffic. Underutilized land and deteriorating buildings further exacerbated the decline in property values.

These investments have created jobs and returned energy to the old downtown. Approximately 2,000 people now work full-time downtown and nearly 600 fill part-time roles. Roughly half of these jobs have been created by the redevelopment that has taken place so far.  And more than 2,000 construction jobs have resulted from the projects now in place.