Our team provides information and data about the business climate to identify trends and develop policy for future economic enhancement in the Greater Dubuque region.
A central location, connected to the world.
The Greater Dubuque region serves as a hub of economic activity in the heart of the Midwest, a convenient distance from major urban areas and large consumer markets.
With many transit and shipping options, including 4-lane connections, rail service, local and regional commercial airports, and Mississippi River barge harbor service, our location makes it easy to get your product to market.
The Greater Dubuque region is connected to U.S. Interstates 80 and 90 via four-lane U.S. Highway 61, and to U.S. Interstate 35 via four-lane U.S. Highway 20. Dubuque also has access to Interstate 380 (Cedar Rapids, IA) and Interstates 39 and 94 (Madison, WI) via four-lane U.S. Highway 151.
The Dubuque Regional Airport serves both business and leisure travelers with service through Denver Air Connection with daily flights to and from Chicago, Illinois.
In the summer of 2016, the Dubuque Regional Airport completed a $37 million new terminal project. This project provides the airport the capacity to house multiple airlines, if needed, provide additional parking, and offer an improved experience to business travelers.
Dubuque Regional Airport
10965 Aviation Drive
Dubuque IA 52003
563-589-4128
Website
O'Hare International Airport
10000 West O'Hare
Chicago IL 60666
1-800-832-6352
Website
The Greater Dubuque area is also located within an easy 90-minute drive of the Quad City International Airport (Moline, IL), the Eastern Iowa Airport (Cedar Rapids, IA), the Dane County Regional Airport (Madison, WI), and the Chicago Rockford International Airport (Rockford, IL), all of which offer connections to major hubs such as Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, New York, Newark, Salt Lake City, Washington DC, Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Phoenix/Mesa, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa, and Los Angeles.
Quad City International Airport
2200 69th Avenue
Moline IL 61265
309-764-9621
Website
The Eastern Iowa Airport
2121 Arthur Collins Parkway SW
Cedar Rapids IA 52404
319-362-8336
Website
Dane County Regional Airport
4000 International Lane
Madison, WI 53704
608-246-3380
Website
Chicago Rockford International Airport
60 Airport Drive
Rockford, IL 61109
815-969-4000
Website
The Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad Corp. (IC&E) operates the rail line along the Mississippi River with tracks that run north/south through Dubuque with daily switching service. The Canadian National/Illinois Central (CN/IC) offers intermodal facilities and daily switching service in Dubuque.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company (BNSF) operates a line across the Mississippi River from Dubuque and serves the Dubuque area via trackage rights over another railroad.
To learn more about Iowa's railways, visit the Iowa Department of Transportation's Office of Rail Transportation Website.
Dubuque is strategically located adjacent to the Mississippi River, offering area industries the advantage of barge transportation. Barges provide a low-cost, important means of shipment for coal, grain, fuel, chemicals, iron, steel, and more.
The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers maintains a 9-foot shipping channel and manages the series of locks and dams between St. Paul, MN, and St. Louis, MO. Lock and Dam #11 is located at Dubuque. Eight river terminals in Dubuque and two fleeting/harbor services provide navigational assistance to the barge industry.
To learn more about barge service in our region, visit the US Army Corps of Engineers – Rock Island District Website.
| City | Distance (in miles) | Distance (in kilometers) |
|---|---|---|
| Quad Cities, IA | 70 | 113 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 70 | 113 |
| Madison, WI | 90 | 145 |
| Waterloo, IA | 91 | 146 |
| Rockford, IL | 94 | 151 |
| Peoria, IL | 168 | 070 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 171 | 275 |
| Chicago, IL | 183 | 295 |
| Des Moines, IA | 189 | 304 |
| Twin Cities, MN | 260 | 418 |
| St. Louis, MO | 310 | 499 |
| Omaha, NE | 320 | 515 |
| Kansas City, MO | 393 | 634 |
A strategic advantage for growth.
Iowa’s tax structure is designed to reward investment, reduce overhead, and accelerate profitability. When you choose to do business in the Greater Dubuque region, you’re choosing a location where the tax code works in your favor — from day one.
Iowa uses a single-factor, nonunitary corporate income tax, based solely on in-state sales. No sales in Iowa? No Iowa corporate income tax. This is a powerful incentive for manufacturers and exporters.
Iowa offers a suite of tax exemptions that significantly reduce capital and operational expenses:
To compare Iowa's business climate to other states, use the IEDA's online 50 State Comparison tool.
For 2025-2026, Dubuque has the second lowest taxes per capita as compared to the eleven largest cities in the state. The highest, West Des Moines, is 128.43% higher than Dubuque's taxes per capita, and the average is 68.57% higher than Dubuque. For more information about tax rates in the City of Dubuque, download the Dollars & Cents brochure for FY2026.
The 2025 standard new employer rate for all non-construction businesses for a three-year period is 1.0 percent on a $39,500 wage base.
Iowa's worker's compensation costs are 16% below the national average. Under Iowa law, employers retain the right to choose medical providers for workplace injuries.
Business can’t run without the utilities that power innovation and output.
That’s why our providers employ state-of-the-art services that take energy and communications into the twenty-first century.
The Greater Dubuque region is equipped with reliable and forward-looking wastewater infrastructure that supports both current industry needs and future expansion. Across Dubuque County, our cities and rural areas maintain systems that meet or exceed state and federal standards—ensuring environmental stewardship and operational reliability for businesses and residents alike.
Dubuque County's communities and rural areas are investing in the future of wastewater management. From Dubuque’s award-winning Water & Resource Recovery Center to Dyersville’s expanding capacity, Peosta’s proactive planning, and rural infrastructure support, the region’s wastewater systems are designed to support economic growth while protecting our most valuable resource—water.
The Greater Dubuque region offers modern, dependable water services to support residential, commercial, and industrial growth. Infrastructure across the county ensures that communities and rural areas have access to safe, high-quality water to support both current needs and future expansion. Learn more about the water utilities services of communities within Dubuque County, by clicking on each community listing below.
The Greater Dubuque region offers robust and reliable electric services across the county, supporting residential, commercial, and industrial users. From urban centers to rural areas, electricity infrastructure is designed to meet today’s demands while supporting future growth.
Natural gas is a key energy resource for the Greater Dubuque region, serving homes, businesses, and industries with safe, efficient, and cost-effective energy. Infrastructure Across Dubuque County ensures reliability and capacity to support current users and future growth. Black Hills Energy serves the natural gas needs for all of Dubuque County.
The Greater Dubuque region offers reliable, high-speed broadband and telecommunications infrastructure through multiple fiber and service providers. Partnerships between the City of Dubuque and communications companies have expanded access and reduced costs for businesses and residents alike. Recognized with a 2025 Gold Award for Innovative Economic Development by the International Economic Development Council, Dubuque’s Broadband Acceleration Initiative continues to strengthen connectivity that drives growth, education, and innovation across the region.
Providers of broadband and telecommunications in our region include:
The Greater Dubuque region is committed to sustainability and energy innovation, offering businesses access to renewable energy resources and services ranging from solar to biogas. Public and private programs across the region help companies improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and contribute to a cleaner future.
Solar providers in our area:
We know our greatest asset is the vibrant businesses that already call the Greater Dubuque region home.
Every year, the Greater Dubuque Development team conducts face-to-face interviews with more than 250 area business owners, CEOs, and top managers as part of our long-standing, award-winning InfoAction program.
Our InfoAction program gathers actionable data and allows us to maximize opportunities for our regional businesses. By learning more about our employers, we can offer targeted services that help them expand, recruit workers, train employees, obtain financing, and manage their supply chains.
Based on the data, we take concrete steps to keep our community moving forward so that YOUR BUSINESS can be great here.
View recent InfoAction findings:
Find free local resources to grow your small business
Explore a curated list of organizations and agencies that support small businesses in the Greater Dubuque region with free or low-cost assistance. Use the link below to access the Resource Navigator and get connected today.