By Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
The Mississippi Valley Welcome Center in LeClaire is getting new life.
After sitting empty for nearly a year, Markman Peat, the Davenport based landscaping supplier, will move in to the old center.
"Instead of just having a piece of property sitting on top of the hill, we are bringing in tax dollars to our community," says Donna Walley, LeClaire Tourism Manager and owner of Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium.
Markman Peat currently occupies part of the union arcade building in downtown Davenport. But that's slowly being converted into apartments after being bought earlier this year.
It's been a struggle to find a new owner for the welcome center since, at one point, it was jointly owned by Scott County, Davenport, Bettendorf and LeClaire.
LeClaire city leaders say they are excited to see a new dimension being added to town.
"We've got these wonderful unique shops here in downtown leClaire but let's face it, when we get other types of businesses, corporate business and everything; they provide another element to our town," Walley adds.
But before that can happen, Davenport City leaders will discuss tonight letting Markman Peat make the move out of Davenport and into LeClaire since the company is moving into a tax increment financing district.
In the meantime, LeClaire city leaders have already granted the company a temporary occupancy permit so they can begin renovations. There's no set time yet for when the building will open.
