Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Backs Community Renewal
How Mendota, Illinois rose from the ashes stronger with the help of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and
Community Heart & Soul
Snapshot Overview
Location: Mendota, Illinois
Partner: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Key Challenge: Two downtown fires and a plant closure spurred an urgent need for economic and community redevelopment
The Narrative
The city of Mendota (pop. 6,980) in north-central Illinois, was already working on downtown revitalization efforts led by a civic group when two devastating fires erased years of work. That setback came on the heels of the pandemic and just a few years after a local food processing plant closed and took with it 400 jobs. Residents faced these challenges with the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and engaged the entire community in charting a path forward with the Community Heart & Soul model.
The Challenges
Challenge #1
Engaging more residents:
Mendota was facing big challenges, but with them came the silver lining of residents pulling together and wanting to help. “The fires added a sense of urgency that helped draw people together,” said longtime Mendota resident Amy Brewer.
Strategy:
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque was instrumental in helping Mendota involve more residents by contributing a Certified Heart & Soul Couch and sharing the experiences of other midwestern Heart & Soul towns. This guidance helped the Mendota Heart & Soul team connect with residents to hear what mattered most to them about their community and what they wanted to see in the future. Middle school students were trained to interview fellow residents, elementary school children shared via coloring sheets, and the voices of hundreds were heard in conversations at local events.
Challenge #2
Economic redevelopment:
Mendota needed to focus on economic redevelopment after the closure of a food packaging plant resulting in the loss of 400 full and parttime jobs and two devastating downtown fires.
Strategy:
The voices heard through the Mendota Heart & Soul process were clear: Residents wanted a vibrant downtown and to support local businesses. To spur economic growth, Mendota is actively attracting new industries, restaurants, and businesses. A grant-funded project will transform a fire-damaged building into an indoor public market with a mini-kitchen and co-working space, while business coaching supports successful start-ups and long-term sustainability.
Challenge #3
Rebuilding community identity and pride:
Mendota faced a pivotal challenge: how to rebuild in a way that truly reflected the people who call it home. Rather than simply restoring what was lost, the community set out to redefine its future. The challenge was not just physical recovery, but ensuring every resident had a voice in shaping what came next. Through Community Heart & Soul, Mendota committed to a resident-driven path forward—one that prioritizes shared values, collective pride, and a stronger, more connected community for generations to come.
Strategy:
Besides physical and economic rebuilding, Mendota residents wanted to rebuild civic pride and identity. The Mendota Heart & Soul efforts included a “Why I love Mendota” campaign. More than 1,700 residents shared what they love about Mendota and those answers were collected and shared in several ways, including “Heart Word” art displays and merchandise, plus a video series. Enthusiasm for a vibrant downtown was a common theme in what residents loved about their city, which led to efforts to revitalize the downtown into a vibrant destination after the fires. Now efforts are underway to realize the citizen-led ideas for the vacant spaces including a pavilion, outdoor seating and expanded events.
The Result
In the last few years Mendota experienced some major setbacks, but the city’s history of resilience continues as it rebuilds. The community is now stronger thanks to the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and Community Heart & Soul partnership, which helped Mendota involve residents from all corners of the city. Through the Heart & Soul process, the city has documented what matters most to residents. That data was used to create Mendota’s Heart & Soul Action Plan which is now used to inform redevelopment and future projects.
Thoughts From Our Partner
“I believe that the Community Heart & Soul process has really changed how our whole organization thinks, how we gather people, and how we bring people together. We’ve taught other people many of the Heart & Soul techniques and skills on how to engage people and get them to share their hopes and dreams.”
— Nancy Van Milligen, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
A Clear Path to Impact
Starting your path towards partnering with Community Heart & Soul is easy.
1
Fill Out a Brief Questionnaire
2
Schedule a Discovery Call
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Make a Lasting Difference Together
