Chicken vs egg. Dubuque has had a real rebirth too, but largely driven by private investment, just like Omaha. Once people have jobs and businesses are prospering, the cultural stuff will take care of itself.
Dubuque? Wow. I have long been of the belief that Dubuque was Iowa's "welfare queen," what with all the grant money they transfer from taxpayers around the state/nation to a handful of the "right" (local) developers. (DBQ doesn't like auslanders horning in.) I will say this, though- Dubuque has certainly had a rebirth in violent crime that only accidentally coincides with a burgeoning population of certain demographic groups from Rockford and Chicago.
Mr. niteowl77
*Other Peoples' Money