Quad Cities Regional Business Journal

What Quad Cities Regional Business Journal does

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal (QCBJ) is a regional B2B business publication serving the Quad Cities region across six counties — Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois, and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa. Founded in late 2021 by John and Aspen Lohman as part of Corridor Media Group, QCBJ launched online newsletters on December 1, 2021 and its first print edition on January 24, 2022. The publication produces a bi-weekly print edition, twice-daily email newsletters (QCBJ Daily and QCBJ Morning Rush), and a website delivering local business news, industry analysis, executive profiles, and editorial features such as Movers & Shakers and In The Works.

The company's revenue model is diversified across four streams: advertising sales (display and sponsorship in print/digital/event formats), recurring subscriptions (digital-only, print, or combined), event and awards revenue (Women of Influence, Forty Under 40, Fastest Growing Companies, Manufacturing Conference, AI for Business Conference, Commercial Real Estate Symposium, and the inaugural Quad Cities Board Connections), and custom publication services. Pricing for ancillary products like Movers & Shakers listings ranges from free to $350, while advertising and event sponsorships are quote-based. Distribution operates via direct sales for print and enterprise sponsorships, twice-daily email newsletters, and a self-serve website.

Technology infrastructure consists of a digital-first publishing platform supporting the website, email newsletter delivery, and event management. QCBJ has expanded its product surface beyond traditional journalism into podcasting (Diversity Straight Up), specialized trade publications (Special Sections), construction project tracking (In The Works), and an AI Certification Course. The company maintains a small team of approximately 13 named personnel across editorial, sales, events, design, and operations under CEO & President John Lohman, with headquarters in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Name

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal

Legal name

Corridor Media Group, Inc.

Website

https://quadcitiesbusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QCBJ is a regional B2B business publication serving the Quad Cities region across Iowa and Illinois, operating a bi-weekly print edition, twice-daily newsletters, signature awards, and conferences under Corridor Media Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bettendorf

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising: The primary revenue stream includes display advertising in both print and digital formats, with various advertising packages and sponsorship opportunities. The publication offers options to connect advertisers with community business leaders through print/digital publication, online, events, and custom solutions.
2. Subscriptions: Revenue from paid subscriptions for the bi-weekly print edition and digital access. Subscriptions are sold through Corridor Media Group's subscription platform with options for digital-only, print, or combined delivery.
3. Events and Awards: Revenue generated from event tickets, award nominations (Forty Under 40, Women of Influence, Fastest Growing Companies), and event sponsorships. Also includes paid Movers & Shakers listings (Print & Online Listing options ranging from free to $350).
4. Custom Publications: Revenue from creating, designing, and distributing custom publications for partners through print, digital, video, and events, providing turnkey marketing solutions for businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal (QCBJ) is a regional business publication covering the Quad Cities area across six counties in Iowa and Illinois. It delivers a bi-weekly print edition and twice-daily email newsletters providing business news, analysis, and strategic insights, supported by award programs, signature conferences, and custom publication services for advertisers and partner organizations.

Product overview

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal (QCBJ) is a regional business publication offering a dual-format news platform consisting of a bi-weekly print edition and a twice-daily email newsletter. The publication covers critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and strategic insights for business leaders in the Quad Cities area spanning Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois, and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa. QCBJ also hosts multiple signature events throughout the year including the Women of Influence awards, Forty Under 40, Fastest Growing Companies, AI for Business Conference, Manufacturing Conference, and Commercial Real Estate Symposium. Additional offerings include custom publications for partner organizations, the Movers & Shakers section highlighting personnel changes, the In The Works construction tracking feature, and the Diversity Straight Up podcast. The publication is produced by Corridor Media Group and was founded in late 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Diversity Straight Up: A podcast hosted by Sarika Bhakta and Anthony Arrington that discusses equity, diversity, inclusion and engagement through authentic conversations with C-suite leaders.

Products and services

• QCBJ Print Edition A bi-weekly print edition delivering business news, analysis, and strategic insights for business leaders in the Quad Cities area covering Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois and Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa.
• QCBJ Email Newsletter A twice-daily email newsletter (QCBJ Daily and QCBJ Morning Rush) providing timely business news coverage and updates to subscribers in the Quad Cities region.
• Women of Influence Awards Annual awards event honoring women who demonstrate leadership, influence, and impact in the Quad Cities business community.
• Forty Under 40 Annual awards event recognizing 40 leaders under the age of 40 who have made significant impact in their businesses and the Quad Cities community.
• Fastest Growing Companies Annual awards program identifying and honoring the Quad Cities region's most dynamic companies ranked by revenue growth over a two-year period.
• AI for Business Conference Signature conference focused on artificial intelligence applications for business professionals in the Quad Cities region.
• Manufacturing Conference Signature event addressing manufacturing industry trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Quad Cities area.
• Commercial Real Estate Symposium

Quantifiable outcome

• High reader engagement with 64% spending 30+ minutes with each issue
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• John DeereflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 September 2026John Deere is the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Quad Cities Board Connections event on September 15, 2026, at John Deere Worldwide Headquarters. This is a flagship sponsorship supporting nonprofit board development in the region.
• Corridor Media GroupcoreOthers · 1 December 2021Parent company of Quad Cities Regional Business Journal. Founded in late 2021 by John and Aspen Lohman. QCBJ launched online newsletters on Dec. 1, 2021, and first print edition on Jan. 24, 2022. Also publishes Corridor Business Journal.
• Women Lead Change (WLC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerQCBJ has partnered with and sponsored Women Lead Change, supporting their mission to elevate women in business and community leadership through coverage and event participation.
• Diversity FocusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQCBJ partners with Diversity Focus to support diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Quad Cities community.
• Digital PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe publication features digital partners including Facebook on its website. The specific partner logos shown include Apple Podcasts, ACT, Alliant Energy, and CRBT as sponsors/supporters of the podcast content.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indianapolis Business Journal: Long-established regional business journal in Indianapolis. Comparable product mix (weekly print, daily newsletters, signature awards, events) targeting Midwestern business decision-makers.
• St. Louis Business Journal: ACBJ title serving the bi-state St. Louis region. Strong format match (weekly print, daily newsletters, signature awards like 40 Under 40) and operates across an Illinois/Missouri border economy analogous to QCBJ's Iowa/Illinois footprint.
• Des Moines Business Record: Long-standing regional business journal covering the Des Moines metro. Directly comparable product offering (bi-weekly print, daily newsletter, awards events, advertising-driven) targeting Iowa business leaders in a similar-sized market.
• Corridor Business Journal: Sister publication under the same Corridor Media Group parent. Most direct comparable: bi-weekly regional business journal in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor, shared sales team, events, and editorial infrastructure with QCBJ.
• Kansas City Business Journal: ACBJ title covering the Kansas City metro with weekly print, daily digital, and a similar awards/events portfolio. Comparable bi-state regional economics and Midwestern business community.
• Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: American City Business Journals title covering the Twin Cities. Closely aligned format (weekly print, daily newsletter, awards events, deep local business coverage) and represents the next-tier version of QCBJ's regional journal playbook.
• BizTimes Milwaukee: Regional business publication serving southeastern Wisconsin with print, digital, and events revenue mix. Comparable mid-market regional B2B journalism targeting business executives and advertisers.

Others

• Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce: Regional business membership organization in the same Quad Cities footprint. Not a media competitor but a peer institution that overlaps on events, networking, and community sponsorship with QCBJ's events business.

Regional players

• Quad-City Times: Long-standing general-interest daily newspaper in the Quad Cities market. Shares the same geographic footprint and overlapping local advertiser base but covers general news rather than a pure B2B audience.

Emerging players

• Cityscene National / CityScene Media Group: Niche regional business lifestyle publications. Comparable as a smaller-format regional business media company combining print, digital, and events to monetize local B2B audiences in mid-sized metros.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qcbjournal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quad Cities Regional Business Journal