Three panelists representing different aspects of Bloomington's performing arts sector shared their views at an Aug. 13 Chamber Speaker Series event.

​Speakers were:

• Kate Galvin,  artistic director for Cardinal Stage
• Linda Pisano, chair of the Indiana University Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance
• Sean Starowitz, assistant director for the arts with the City of Bloomington Economic & Sustainable Development Department

Topics in the wide-ranging discussion included the impact of COVID-19 on performing arts organizations, how groups are adapting in creative ways, infrastructure needs, ways that new collaborations are forming, and the need for ongoing support during these challenging times.

​According to a 2019 study commissioned by Cardinal Stage, the Bloomington/Monroe County performing arts sector adds over $4 million annually to the local economy and supports more than 160 jobs here.

Click here to view a recording of the Speaker Series discussion.

The Indiana Small Business Development Center and Indiana University Kelley School of Business are offering a no-cost technology consulting service to small businesses with the goal of establishing or increasing their online presence and/or creating digital capabilities. 

Eligible companies may apply for no-cost assistance to help establish or increase their online presence through website development, e-commerce support and other digital tools and services. Under this Project HOPE program, Kelley students and recent graduates are offered paid internships to assist small businesses in solving technology issues or providing new digital capabilities. Projects include creating or modifying websites, building e-commerce platforms, improving cybersecurity frameworks, migrating data, and more. 

Indiana small businesses can submit applications online here. For more information, contact Troy Phelps, Assistant Director for Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Gayle & Bill Cook Center For Entrepreneurship, at [email protected]. The South Central Indiana SBDC is housed at Ivy Tech Bloomington.

Over 150 companies have been helped so far, with more than 80 in the pipeline. The project engages with 40 new clients every two weeks and will be continuing this level of engagement through the rest of 2020.  

The City of Bloomington released a housing assessment study that was commissioned in 2019, analyzing the current status of housing stock and identifying goals and actions to take.

A sampling of findings:

• While Bloomington's cost burdened households declined since 2010, many neighborhoods are still paying more than 30% of their income to housing.
• The greatest shortage of units is for households making less than $25,000.
• Over the next decade, Bloomington will need an additional 2,592 units to support projected population growth.
• The number of available rental units is far below the estimated city vacancy rate.

The report recommended several actions, including 1) identifying policies for sharing risk on development of new affordable lots; 2) finding ways to streamline the development and approval process; 3) leveraging "opportunity sites" to expand housing options within the city; 4) encouraging new development in existing communities; and 5) developing a pool of funding for affordable housing.
​
Chamber CEO Erin Predmore served on the steering committee for this study.

​Click here to read the full report.

​The City of Bloomington has started a pilot program to convert parking spaces into additional spots for outdoor dining in the downtown area. Restaurants that want to create these “parklets” can apply to the city, which will then install barriers to protect the seating area.
 
Businesses can apply online here. More information is available on the city's business resource page, or contact Kaisa Goodman at [email protected].

The program will be available at least through Sept. 30.