Economic Development
A sound economic base upon which to build good schools, parks, social services, and other key ingredients of a healthy community is essential. Thoughtful, rational, and balanced economic development - especially the attraction, creation, and retention of quality basic employers - is a required element of our continued success. Such employers bring a higher wage base and improved quality of life for all citizens.

The Chamber advocates:
BEDC: The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation has demonstrated its effectiveness in attracting and retaining employers. Well-managed and efficient, it deserves continued support of business and city and county government. It should increase the size of its staff and broaden its activities in accordance with its recently developed strategic plan.

Small Business: Small business is at the heart of the economic engine that provides resources to our community. A majority of businesses in the community have fewer than 10 employees. Unfortunately, because of the demands of their businesses, small business owners often cannot be involved in business advocacy initiatives. The Chamber should continue to serve as an effective representative for small business. Of critical importance are several organizations that exist to serve small business. The Small Business Development Center, inVenture, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives deserve strong public and private support.

Business and Industrial Sites: Very little flat land supported by infrastructure is available in the community. The city, county, Chamber, and the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation should take specific action to protect and develop such land. The area west of Ellettsville and the north entry corridor offer the best opportunity to gain control of such land before it is lost to competing uses.

Crane: This facility will continue to be threatened as the Department of Defense gets smaller. To survive, it must become an "industrial park" in which both government and private activities are located. In this way, Crane shares the substantial overhead costs it incurs, and private businesses can take advantage of being near very capable technical and support services. It is also vital to Crane, both as a military base and as an industrial park, that I-69 is completed at the earliest date. The community, and specifically the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, should assist Crane in attracting private industry.

Consolidated Community Legislative Agenda: It is very important that the community bring appropriate attention and political pressure to issues that affect our community under consideration at the state and national levels. Because resources are limited, the community must develop a united approach. Under the leadership of the mayor, the community should annually develop a consolidated legislative agenda that focuses attention on those issues that the community feels are most important. There should exist a deliberate process by which the agenda is developed with close involvement by community and business leaders. These leaders can help to communicate the agenda to elected officials at the state and national levels.

County Government: Our current form of county government seriously handicaps our community's ability to develop its economy. Developed in 1861 and intended to serve an economy that no longer exists, it is less effective than it should be. Because the state constitution and statutes establish the form of government, change will be difficult. However, the community should take advantage of every opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the current form of government and insist that our state elected officials deal with the issue. The end result must be accountable, effective, and efficient government.

Gas Tax: Our transportation infrastructure is severely under funded, which has a profound impact on economic development, the environment, and safety. The state should impose a 5-cent gas tax to help pay for new roads plus repairs and improvements to existing roads. Communities should receive their pro rata share of tax revenues.
PCBs: The community should be resolutely intolerant of any delays in cleaning up PCB contamination. Its presence constitutes a health hazard and casts a pall on economic development initiatives. All parties should complete their responsibilities under existing agreements without delay.

Economic Education: Our success as individuals, businesses, and communities depends to a great extent on our knowledge of, and ability to effectively utilize, the economic foundations of our activities. Community leaders should implement a strategy to increase the economic sophistication of all of us - students; families; and business, university, and government leaders. The MCCSC should develop a specific curriculum to address this issue.

Tax Reforms: The state will undertake tax reforms in the next several years. Through the Chamber's Tax Issues Committee, the community should develop recommendations for our state legislators to ensure that our perspectives are heard. Wide participation in the committee by community leaders will ensure that we can present an informed, unified perspective.