When people think about a Chamber of Commerce, their mind often wanders to networking events, business promotion, and educational opportunities. While those are critical parts of what we do, there’s another role that is just as vital: advocacy.

At the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, advocacy means raising the collective voice of business in local government. It means showing up, speaking up, and working with decision-makers to create a stronger, more vibrant community for both businesses and residents.

Why Advocacy Matters

• Accountability and Transparency: Government decisions affect the business climate and quality of life in Monroe County. Our presence at council, commission, and board meetings ensures that policies are discussed openly and that the business community’s perspective is considered.
• Partnership, Not Opposition: Advocacy isn’t about fighting with elected officials. It’s about engaging in constructive conversations. We commend our leaders when they take bold steps or engage in robust debate, and we ask tough questions when accountability is needed.
• Consistency and Relationships: Because we attend meetings regularly and maintain ongoing conversations with city and county officials, we can build trusted relationships. That allows us to reach out with questions, share concerns from our members, and work together on solutions.

What Advocacy Has Accomplished
Over the years, Chamber advocacy has helped deliver tangible results that strengthen both business and community life:

• Improved Transportation Access: Supported Bloomington Transit’s expansion of service to Park 48, connecting employees and customers to a major employment and retail hub.
• Convention Center Expansion: Advocated for the approval of $46.8 million in funding to expand the Monroe County Convention Center, a project that will boost tourism, hospitality, and small business growth downtown.
• Public Safety: Championed investments in police staffing and resources, ensuring a safer environment for residents, employees, and visitors.

These accomplishments reflect the Chamber’s role as a bridge between business leaders, elected officials, and the community at large.

Our Ongoing Commitment
Advocacy doesn’t stop with a single vote or project. It’s an ongoing commitment:

• Attending and Commenting at Meetings: We make sure the business community’s voice is heard in real time.
• Regular Meetings with Elected Officials: We sit down with city and county leaders to discuss priorities, ask questions, and ensure transparency.
• Public Recognition of Good Governance: When our elected officials engage in meaningful debate, pass pro-business policies, or take steps to strengthen the community, we highlight their work and thank them.

Why It Matters for Everyone
Advocacy isn’t just for business owners—it benefits the entire community. Strong public transit helps employees get to work and customers reach businesses. A vibrant convention center draws visitors who spend money locally. Robust public safety keeps neighborhoods, schools, and downtown safe.
When local government works well, everyone benefits.

The Hopewell neighborhood project is a shiny new look to smart community planning and development. The neighborhood reuses the site of the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital, which the city purchased for $6.5 million. The neighborhood includes the 1-acre Hopewell Commons Park and will include mixed housing types for different price points. The city is partnering with Flintlock LAB, a firm that specializes in community-based housing solutions to take on this project. 

Hopewell’s latest updates
 Since its master plan was introduced 5 years ago, Bloomington opened a new city park, the Hopewell Commons, in April of this year. They also began construction of the 38 low-income housing units at the former Kohr Administration building in October of last year, which will wrap up in 2026. Since construction is in phases, Hopewell has yet to start construction of homes. The latest update from the city was on September 8th, 2025 notifying that street construction has begun on West Second Street, the northern border of the project. Street construction will modernize utilities (including water and sewer, natural gas, power, and natural gas), 10-ft sidewalk, tree plot, bicycle lanes, and street lighting. The project will be broken up into 6 phases where there will be road closures intermittently. Construction is expected to carry through until June 2026. 

How Portland’s permit ease can be applied to Hopewell
While the city is finding ways to streamline development, there could be a solution that would reduce the time to break ground on housing: through simplifying permits. This is an effort that the city of Portland, Oregon is exploring to expedite economic development. By pausing certain permits, it reduces costs for permit applications, and reduces the review wait time. Through their Code Alignment Project, they are pausing requirements until 2029 on permits regarding:

• tree planting
• street improvements
• on-site upgrade mandates for non-conforming situations
• seismic vulnerability reports for old buildings

Exceptions to this moratorium include street planting requirements for new buildings, and street improvements that still apply for significant alterations. With street modernization already underway in Bloomington, these exceptions would not apply to this project. The city could create a moratorium for similar permits in the Portland case and could end it at any time they deem fit for the Hopewell project or others. This would be a solution to streamline future Hopewell redevelopment. 
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Need for speed
The city should consider solutions such as a pause in certain permits without sacrificing safety and begin swift development efforts. With the new Herald Times article stressing the need for affordable mixed housing in Bloomington, a project like Hopewell Neighborhood is more needed than ever.

Here in Monroe County, we’re fortunate to have a public school system that delivers opportunities many communities only dream of.  For me, this isn’t just abstract—it’s personal. My own son attends Templeton Elementary, where I see every day how dedicated teachers and innovative programs give students the tools to grow, thrive, and stay curious about learning. At a recent MCCSC board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Winston laid out just how much our kids can access right here at home:

• Award-winning STEM and arts programs​
• Dual-language immersion and International Baccalaureate schools
• College and career pathways, AP and dual credit classes
• Pre-K expansion that’s giving more kids a strong start

In short: our schools both in MCCSC and RBB are doing amazing work—and the results show it. Test scores are above state averages, graduation rates are climbing, and students are leaving prepared for college, careers, and everything in between.

The Challenge Beneath the Success
At the same time, MCCSC is facing tough realities: fewer young families are moving here, enrollment is declining, and state policy changes will mean millions less in revenue in the coming years. Superintendent Markay Winston has cautioned that these losses are expected to continue for at least the next seven years—making it clear that this is not a short-term issue, but a structural challenge the district must confront.

Where the Chamber Steps In
Through the Chamber’s Success School, we’re proud to partner with MCCSC to bring real-world career exploration to students—career fairs, Reality Store®, job shadowing, and more. This work is even more important now as Indiana rolls out new graduation requirements that tie directly to workforce readiness.

Our schools can’t do this alone. It takes partnerships—with businesses, with nonprofits, and with the state—to make sure every student has the support and experiences they need.

Why This Matters for Everyone
Public education isn’t just about test scores—it’s about community vitality. Strong schools:

• Attract new families deciding where to live
• Help employers recruit and keep talent
• Build the skilled workforce our economy depends on

That’s why the Chamber views MCCSC and RBB as central to economic development. A strong school system isn’t just good for kids—it’s good for business, too.

Moving Forward
As a community, we need to champion MCCSC and push the state to align funding with the real needs of today’s education system. Investing in public education is investing in Monroe County’s future workforce, economy, and quality of life.

​Because when our schools thrive, our community thrives.