Regional Profile
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Geography/Location
The Quad Cities metropolitan area is located along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, approximately 165 miles (265 KM) west of Chicago and midway between Minneapolis to the north and St. Louis to the south. The area's 300-mile market of 37.4 million people comprises almost 13% of the nation's population. This makes it the largest 300-mile market west of Chicago.Quad Cities Regional Demographics
Regional Labor Shed
The Quad Cities region has a strong and growing labor force of 428,307. (Source: June 2010, Quad Cities Chamber Laborshed ReportIndustry Concentration
According to a study commissioned by the Quad Cities First in 2010, manufacturing is the single largest industry sector in the Quad Cities region, accounting for 24% of jobs and 27% of earnings. Other leading industries include services, finance and construction.Cost of Living
Quad Cities region has a highly favorable cost of living: 4.1% lower than the national cost of living, making it an attractive draw for workforce. In a recent American Chamber of Commerce Research Association (ACCRA) quarterly cost of living survey of 309 urban areas, the Quad Cities is consistently below the national average in all major cost categories, including housing, utilities, grocery items, health care and miscellaneous goods and services. (Source: C2ER, Third Quarter, 2008)Education
The Quad Cities region has a strong infrastructure for lifelong learning, from its network of K12 schools to the 40 colleges and universities within a 90-mile radius teaching 33,000 local college students each year. A recent announcement by Western Illinois University will expand campus enrollment by 3,000 students and launch an engineering degree program. The Quad Cities Graduate Study Center offers innovative programs to local companies such as management-level informational sessions, curriculum development initiatives and on-site employer information.Quad Cities Regional Business Climate
Workers Compensation Cost | IA | IL |
| A. Employer Cost per $100 | 1 | 0.94 |
| B. Rank (1 = Best) | 25 | 23 |
| Right-To-Work Law | Yes | No |
Corporate Taxes
IA | IL | |
| A. Corporate Income Tax Rate, 2006 | First $25,000 6% Next $75,000 8% Next $150,000 10% Over $250,000 12% | 7.30% |
| B. Federal Taxes Deductible on State Forms? | Yes 50% | No |
| C. Apportionment Formula Used to Determine Percent of Total Business Income Attributed to the Taxing State | Sales 100% (on profits from sales in state only) | Sales 100% |
