Mayor Gordon delivers State of the City address

(June 11, 2026) Mayor Jason Gordon presented his vision for the City of Davenport at the 2026 State of the City event. More than 200 guests joined city leaders for the breakfast presentation at the Putnam Museum and Science Center.

Under the theme, "A New Day in Davenport," Mayor Gordon's speech focused on the major projects and initiatives underway across the city while also looking ahead to how the City Council's vision will guide future decision-making. The presentation highlighted accomplishments in three key areas: neighborhood investment, organizational stability, and community connection.

Neighborhood Investment

Neighborhood investment means a hyper-local focus on block-level improvements that residents can see and feel in every corner of the city. The newly elected City Council arrived with a clear directive to invest more in neighborhood streets, and the City moved quickly to allocate an additional $1.5 million for neighborhood street projects equivalent to 36 city blocks. Overall, the City's Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Program includes $24.5 million for the street network.

Davenport is also investing in its heritage neighborhoods through the Davenport DREAM Project. DREAM allows homeowners in qualifying areas to apply for funding to make exterior improvements. Round 8 will launch in July, along with a new round of Commercial DREAM, a similar initiative focused on commercial properties in the Rockingham Corridor.

Mayor Gordon also provided an update on the City's role in developing solutions for people experiencing homelessness in the region. Led by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and the Downtown Davenport Partnership, this regional approach is focused on connecting people to housing, addressing complex behavioral health and support needs, and maintaining safe, welcoming public spaces.

"I am fully committed to taking bold action to address this city-wide challenge," Mayor Gordon said. "All the right people are in the room in this collaboration to make a positive impact on people and families experiencing homelessness."

Organizational Stability

Mayor Gordon highlighted the importance of advocacy in bringing federal funding back to the community through grants that support critical infrastructure projects. Over the past five years, the City of Davenport has secured $82 million in federal grant funding. Recent examples include the berm and pumping system defending the Water Pollution Control Plant, the Eastern Avenue bridge reconstruction, and the purchase of a new fire rescue boat for river operations.

New leadership is also a key component of long-term organizational stability. Mayor Gordon highlighted the early successes of Fire Chief Jeff VanderWiere and, in recognition of the recent retirement of Police Chief Jeff Bladel, announced the creation of the Chief Jeffery E. Bladel Legacy of Service Award.

The annual award will recognize a department employee whose dedication, innovation, and leadership have significantly advanced the department's mission through gun-violence reduction efforts and the effective use of data-driven analytics. The first recipient will be named later this year.

Community Connection

Mayor Gordon presented his vision for an engaged city where residents are welcomed into the decision-making process and invited to share in the City's success.

"We are reclaiming the narrative of who we are as a city," he said. "This is not the Davenport of five or ten years ago. We feel the momentum pushing us forward."

Providing an update on Main Street Landing, Mayor Gordon thanked the hundreds of people over the past 30 years who envisioned a destination on the riverfront and the community's determination to bring that vision to life. Main Street Landing remains on schedule for completion in late 2026.