JA History and Territory
Junior Achievement was founded in 1919 in Springfield, Massachusetts. What started as a collection of small, after-school business clubs has grown into an international program with 140 chapters in the United States.
Junior Achievement of the Heartland (formerly JA of the Quad Cities Area) was founded in 1956. JA of the Heartland is recognized as the 17th largest JA chapter in the nation and is currently ranked 3rd for student penetration.
In July 2004, JA of the Quad Cities merged with JA of the Tri-States Area (Dubuque) to become JA of the Heartland. The chapter’s new territory encompasses 25 counties in eastern Iowa, western Illinois, and southwest Wisconsin. With headquarters located in Moline, IL, an office in Dubuque, IA, and JA World located in downtown Davenport, IA. JA of the Heartland staffs more than 20 employees working to provide JA programs to approximately 64,400 students across the area.
For more information about a specific community serviced by JA of the Heartland, please refer to the menu bar above.
