The Business Community and K12 Education

Economic development over the last three decades has evolved. No longer is the basic strategy of lavishing corporations with incentives to move or expand enough or even the best use of resources. Low taxes and little regulation can only push the economy so much. Mississippi prides itself on low corporate taxes and little regulation, yet it's hard to find its success story. US News ranks their economy dead last.

Right now, skilled labor is at a premium. At no time in this country’s history has labor been more mobile. Workers can choose where to live. Quality of place takes center stage. Communities need to provide the amenities young professionals and families are looking for.  Parks, trails, safety, a vibrant downtown take center stage.

One area of quality of life where the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) was ahead of the curve is its investment in K–12 public education agencies. In 1999, the Chamber formed its 501-C3 foundation, or “feel-good” arm, called the Franklin Initiative. Since 2019, it has been known as the Success School. While Indiana has blindly moved its focus toward charter schools and vouchers, the Chamber has doubled down on partnering with our two award-winning school districts in the county. GBCC understood that families probe, “How are the schools?” when contemplating a move into a community.  Both MCCSC and RBB  provide a sense of identify and civic pride. 

The Success School is a vehicle for the GBCC to provide a community benefit that uniquely fits our mission with the resources only the Chamber can provide. It connects students’ learning to real-world experiences to motivate them to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to achieve. It facilitates partnerships and programs between the education and business communities that increase student engagement. The Chamber’s 850+ members across multiple sectors enjoy sharing their passion with our local youth. These volunteer opportunities also help retain employees by building a connection to the community and its future.

While the Success School has had its peaks and valleys, the 2023-2024 school year proved to have one of our largest impacts.  See Below:  

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