Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
  • Membership
    • Business Directory
    • Become a Member
    • Benefits of Membership >
      • Interested in Membership
    • Levels of Membership
    • Member Portal & Materials >
      • Member Login
    • Chamber App
    • Connect Bloomington
    • Member Resources
  • Events & News
    • Signature Events >
      • Community Awards Nominations
      • Educator of the Year Nominations
    • Chamber Events Calendar
    • Sponsorship
    • Member News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Chamber News
  • Initiatives & Resources
    • Bloomington Women in Leadership >
      • BWIL Steering Committee
    • The Success School
    • Young Professionals Bloomington >
      • YPB Steering Committee
    • Business Resources
    • Job Board
    • Community Calendar
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Matters Updates
    • Legislative Agenda
    • Local Government
    • Advocacy Resources
  • About Us
    • Contact Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Press & Media
Member Login | Join Us!
Member Login | Join Us!

 Advocacy Matters
Local News & Updates

2019 Indiana Civic Health Index: Room for Improvement

11/25/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureFrom right: Lee Hamilton, Randy Shepard and Bill Moreau.
"Being a good citizen is tough work." That was part of the message from former Congressman Lee Hamilton in discussing the 2019 Indiana Civic Health Index, a look at civic indicators including voter turnout and cultural attitudes. He was part of a panel discussion on Nov. 20 with attorney Bill Moreau and former Indiana Chief Justice Randy Shepard at the Indiana Memorial Union.

​In 2018, Indiana ranked 37th in the nation for voter registration and 43rd for voter turnout.

In addition to measuring current civic health, the report makes two recommendations:
  1. Convene a civic education task force to improve civic education opportunities for all ages and to prepare specific policy recommendations for civic education.
  2. Increase turnout among Indiana voters substantially in 2020, with the goal of moving Indiana from the bottom 10 to the top 10 states.

Picture
To help address those goals, Bill Moreau has co-founded the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation Inc., a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on increasing the number of informed, engaged Hoosier Voters.

​Go to IndianaCitizen.org to learn about the work of the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation. The group is also organizing the Indiana Civic Health Alliance, a coalition to support the recommendations of the 2019 Indiana Civic Health Index.


0 Comments

Tobacco-Free Coalition Seeks Teens for Advocacy Efforts

11/20/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
The Tobacco-Free Coalition of Monroe County is looking for 5 youth between the ages of 13-18 years old who would like to participate in VOICE, a youth advocacy campaign.

​VOICE is Indiana's statewide youth empowerment program, an initiative to engage, educate, and empower teens to celebrate a tobacco-free lifestyle. 

Do you know a teen who might be interested? Contact the coalition's Youth Coordinator, Patricia Colon, at [email protected] for more information.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is a member of the Tobacco-Free Coalition. Click here to learn more about our community's tobacco cessation efforts.

1 Comment

U.S. Census 2020 Jobs Available for Local Count

11/18/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is a partner for the U.S. Census 2020, working with a broad coalition to ensure that our community has a high participation rate.

​As part of that effort, we're publicizing the availability of jobs to help with the Census count in 2020. The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring a variety of temporary jobs, including census takers, recruiting staff, and office staff.

Click here for details about Census 2020 jobs and how to apply.

0 Comments

Federal Focus Luncheon: Senator Mike Braun

11/15/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureSen. Mike Braun and Chamber CEO Erin Predmore.
U.S. Senator Mike Braun was the featured speaker at the Chamber's Nov. 15 Federal Focus Luncheon, drawing about 200 people to Ivy Tech's Shreve Hall.

During a Q&A with Chamber CEO Erin Predmore, Sen. Braun discussed his views on the federal deficit, tariffs, climate change, the current impeachment process and ... mushroom hunting!


The event was recorded live for the Chamber's 3 Things Podcast , available on Nov. 20.

 Click here for the Herald-Times coverage of this event.

0 Comments

Survey: Arts Community Needs Assessment

11/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
The City of Bloomington is conducting a survey to assess the space needs of organizations and individuals in the Bloomington Entertainment & Arts District (BEAD) .

The survey takes about 3-5 minutes and will close on Nov. 27.

TAKE THE BEAD SURVEY

​BEAD is a state-designated cultural district that's overseen by the City of Bloomington's Department of Economic & Sustainable Development. It is an area in downtown Bloomington that includes a variety of cultural venues, including the Bloomington Playwrights Project, the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (where the BEAD Info Shop is located), WonderLab Museum, Arts Row and more. Click here to view a walking map of the district.
​
For more information, go to VisitBEAD.com.
0 Comments

Bloomington Affordable Living Report Released

11/8/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
On Nov. 6, Bloomington City Councilmembers Susan Sandberg and Chris Sturbaum released the final report of the Affordable Living Committee that they've been working on since 2015. 

From the introduction: "This report is not intended to be the authoritative word on affordability in Bloomington. Instead, it is intended to point out the need for a systems view of affordability – a vision that is bigger than just housing.  It is our hope that as the community conversation about affordable housing continues to evolve, that it does so mindful of a comprehensive approach to the problem. One that includes, but is not limited to: wages, housing, child care, health care, and food. "

​Click here for a copy of the report.

0 Comments

Chamber Pitches In On Election Day!

11/6/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thanks to Chamber Ambassadors and staff for helping out Monroe County Election Central on Election Day!

At the request of Election Director Karen Wheeler, we placed signs to alert voters in districts where elections weren't held this year, to help avoid confusion.

Results of the Nov. 5 local election for Bloomington City Council: In District 2, Democrat Sue Sgambelluri defeated Republican Andrew Guenther. In District 3, Democrat Ron Smith prevailed over Independents Nick Kappas and Marty Spechler. No other local races were contested.

​Thanks to Ambassadors Kelsey Haislip (right, at Summit Elementary) and Michele Tierney, as well as Chamber staffers Jim Shelton, Stacy Bruce, Tammy Walker and Rachel Levy for helping out. Look for more nonpartisan election support in 2020!

0 Comments

City Seeks Feedback on Redevelopment of Hospital Site

11/4/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
The City of Bloomington is seeking input on how to redevelop the site of the current Bloomington Hospital, a 24-acre area that the city is buying from IU Health.

The committee that's working on this project got an update at an Oct. 28, 2019 meeting. Click here to see the slidedeck from that meeting. Erin Predmore, the Chamber's CEO, serves on the reuse committee.

Per terms of the agreement with IU Health, the city needs to make a decision by Nov. 21 about whether to keep the Kohr Administrative Building and/or the four-story parking garage, which was built in 1989 and has 480 spaces. The main hospital building  must be demolished. The site is located at West 2nd and Rogers.

​The site will be transferred to the city when the new IU Health Regional Academic Health Center opens in the fall of 2021 along the 45/46 Bypass. Options for residential, retail and office development are being considered.

For additional background about this project, check out the city's IU Health Hospital Redevelopment Site website.

Click here to take a survey about the site redevelopment.

1 Comment
    Sign Up for our Newsletter
    Categories

    Categories

    All
    Advisory Boards/Commissions
    Affordability
    Annexation
    Arts & Culture
    Awards
    Bloomington Government
    Bloomington IU Relations
    Bloomington-IU Relations
    Bloomington Police
    Broadband
    Budget
    Census
    Chamber Events
    Chamber News
    Civic Engagement
    Climate Change
    Convention Center
    COVID 19 Pandemic
    COVID-19 Pandemic
    Criminal Justice
    Development
    Diversity
    Downtown Bloomington
    Economic Development
    Economic Impact
    Education
    Elections
    Ellettsville
    Emergency Management
    Entrepreneurs
    Environment
    Farmers Market
    Federal Government
    Finance
    Grants
    Historic Preservation
    Homelessness
    Housing
    Indiana University
    Infrastructure
    IN State Government
    IN State Legislature
    Ivy Tech
    Jail
    Judicial
    Law Enforcement
    Low Income Issues
    Major Employers
    Manufacturing
    Minority Business
    Monroe County Circuit Court
    Monroe County Community School Corporation
    Monroe County Government
    Monroe County Public Library
    Networking
    Nonprofits
    Opinion
    Parking
    Parks
    Planning
    Public Art
    Public Health
    Public Policy
    Public Safety
    Quality Of Place
    Quotable Quotes
    Redistricting
    Restaurants
    Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corp.
    Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp.
    Rural Communities
    Small Business
    Small Business Development Center
    Startups
    Surveys
    Sustainability
    Taxes
    Technology
    TIF (Tax Increment Financing)
    Tourism
    Transportation
    UDO (Unified Development Ordinance)
    Utilities
    Workforce Attraction/Retention
    Workforce Development
    Youth
    Zoning

    Archives

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019

    RSS Feed

    Disclaimer

    This blog post reflects the position of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, with added insights and commentary from the individual contributor. Opinions expressed are informed by the Chamber’s mission but may include personal perspective.

Contact Our Team | Business Directory

Our Chamber

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce provides leadership through member engagement, business advocacy and civic partnerships to strengthen our community and business environment.

Main Contact

421 W 6th Street, Suite A | Bloomington, IN 47404
[email protected]
(812) 336-6381

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9:00am - 500:pm
Friday: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Trust Center
​
Media Center
Speaking Requests

There is a no refund policy for events.  If you need to reassign your ticket to another person we will be happy to update our attendance list. Thank you.

Chamber Info

About Us
Board of Directors
Contact Our Team

Chamber Resources

Business Directory
Chamber Events Calendar
Member News
Chamber News
Membership Application
Member Login
Business Resources
Picture
Copyright The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
  • Membership
    • Business Directory
    • Become a Member
    • Benefits of Membership >
      • Interested in Membership
    • Levels of Membership
    • Member Portal & Materials >
      • Member Login
    • Chamber App
    • Connect Bloomington
    • Member Resources
  • Events & News
    • Signature Events >
      • Community Awards Nominations
      • Educator of the Year Nominations
    • Chamber Events Calendar
    • Sponsorship
    • Member News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Chamber News
  • Initiatives & Resources
    • Bloomington Women in Leadership >
      • BWIL Steering Committee
    • The Success School
    • Young Professionals Bloomington >
      • YPB Steering Committee
    • Business Resources
    • Job Board
    • Community Calendar
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Matters Updates
    • Legislative Agenda
    • Local Government
    • Advocacy Resources
  • About Us
    • Contact Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Press & Media