Meet Quincy Development Center
“I was working here at the Motorola Company 32 years ago on the day that 3,500 people lost their jobs,” remembers Bill Spilker, facility manager of the Quincy Development Center at 1400 North 30th Street. “A couple years later, in 1984 after Cummins left, no one but the building’s new owner, the late Martin Baral, thought we could ever fill it back up again. But if you combine all the companies here today, we have more than 1,100 employees.”
Baral’s vision was to build an industrial mall within the 850,000-square-foot facility built on 70 acres by the Motorola Company in the mid-1950s. The divided spaces would be filled with multiple businesses instead of one major employer, providing flexibility for companies, camaraderie among owners and staff, and stability for the community’s workforce.
“Small and medium-sized businesses find this space ideal,” continues Spilker. “We offer affordable rent and there is plenty of parking, loading docks and tall ceilings. And you can convert existing warehouse spaces at a fraction of the cost of building new.
“The entire building is equipped with an ADT sprinkler system,” he continues. “Our staff is here to manage the facility and we often are able to provide companies with additional space if they get that one-time big contract or when they are ready to expand their operations on a permanent basis.”
The QDC staff also has vast experience working with the City of Quincy and the Great River Economic Development Foundation in their efforts to attract expanding national companies to Quincy.
Fifteen businesses currently occupy the facility, including Chamber members Blue Cross Blue Shield and Gem City Electric Company. Harris Corporation, Titan International and Kirlin’s use QDC for warehouse space, and JJ’s Catering operates the center’s cafeteria, Café J. Spaces range from 4,000 to 44,000 square feet, and only a few areas remain open.
“Two nice office spaces are or will become available for new tenants,” says Mark Morrison, who will take over as facility manager next year after Spilker retires. “One is 4,000 square feet and the other 925 square feet. And we have 24,000 square feet in our upper mezzanine, which will take a build-out.
“The center is located in an enterprise zone that offers many tax incentives to employers, and the landlord,
The staff and tenants treat each other as family.
“Employees enjoy visiting in the cafeteria and the businesses help each other out when they can. They are looked after like family,” says Morrison. “This facility is quite a success story,” says Spilker.
For more information, stop by the center for a tour Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also call 222-2725 or visit them online at www.quincydevelopment.com.
Guardtree Limited, also offers incentives for the first few years to compensate for remodeling costs,” Morrison continues.
