The Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp. board approved its reopening plan on July 7, adding to the school plans already authorized in this area. R-BB's plan requires students and staff to wear face coverings, with some exceptions. Click here for the R-BB reopening plan.

​The Monroe County Community School Corp. board approved its reentry plan in June. It also requires face coverings for students and staff, with exceptions. Click here for the MCCSC Reentry and Recovery Plan.

Information and updates about Indiana University's reopening are available on the IU Fall 2020 site.

​Monroe County Commissioners and the Monroe County Health Department are providing free window clings for businesses and organizations to help promote wearing face masks. The Chamber is helping distribute these clings, as is Downtown Bloomington Inc.

To pick up your cling, contact the Chamber at 812-336-6381. They are also available when you pick up face masks and hand sanitizer through the Chamber's PPE program.

You can also get clings at the county courthouse square building's north door on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. til noon, and 1-5 p.m.  For more information, contact the Monroe County Commissioners' office at [email protected] or 812-349-2550.

The Bloomington Citizens' Academy is accepting applications for its 2020 course, which runs each Thursday evening, 6-8 p.m., from August 27 to October 29. 

The deadline to apply is July 29. Click here to apply online.

The free academy is organized by the City of Bloomington's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND). The classes provide an overview of city operations, including police and fire departments, utilities, public works and more.

Monroe County has issued a new public health order to take effect July 4. It follows Gov. Eric Holcomb's executive order for Stage 4.5 except for these deviations that will apply to Monroe County:
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1. Indoor gatherings are limited to no more than 100 people.
2. Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than 150 people.
3. In order for a restaurant or bar to provide "bar top" service, they must protect bar supplies from possible contamination by patrons at the bar.
4. All businesses are required to post a sign (minimum size 8" by 10") at the main entrance by July 8th, 2020, that requests patrons wear a face covering while on the premises, in order to protect employees, other customers and those with whom they are in contact.

Click here to read the full order.

The Monroe County Health Department has provided two sample signs that businesses can use. Click here and here.

More than 300 people signed a letter to the City of Bloomington administration, supporting the continued use of the Waldron building at 122 S. Walnut for arts & cultural purposes.

​Ivy Tech has owned the building for several years, and recently announced plans to return it to the city. That transaction is expected to be completed in August.

The petition, organized by Arts Forward Bloomington, in part asks the city to keep the building's "current function as an arts center, particularly a performance venue available for public use.”

Sean Starowitz, the city's assistant director for the arts, told the Chamber that a public engagement process will be held later this year to get input on the building's future use.

Click here to see the Arts Forward Bloomington press release, with a full text of the letter and a list of signatories.