Communities do not compete simply with tax rates or incentives anymore. They compete on whether people believe they can get things done.

Government exists to protect the public. We agree with that old saying. But protecting the public should not mean making it unnecessarily difficult to invest in our community.

Government at its best creates confidence. It sets clear expectations, applies standards consistently, and helps people find a path to compliance. It opens doors instead of putting up barriers.

That is why the Bloomington Chamber welcomes the City's response to the independent audit of its development review and permitting process. The report confirms what applicants—large and small—have experienced for years: inconsistent reviews, conflicting direction between departments, long timelines, and a process that often felt unpredictable. More importantly, it offers practical ways to improve it.

These conversations have found their way to the Chamber for years.

We have collaborated with a local entrepreneur trying to open an emergency veterinary hospital, where months of delay meant the community waited longer for the service it needed. We have also seen a homeowner's accessory dwelling unit become caught in an extended review despite supporting the City's own housing goals. We have heard from business owners renovating existing buildings who went through round after round of comments without a clear understanding of what was required to move forward.

None of this was ever about avoiding regulations.

It was about understanding them.

Execution, Discipline, and Getting the Basics Right
Over the past eight years at the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, I’ve worked alongside businesses, community leaders, and elected officials through periods of both momentum and uncertainty.

As the Mayor prepares to deliver the State of the City address on March 31st, Bloomington faces a series of decisions that will shape its trajectory for decades.

The question is no longer whether we understand the challenges—it is whether we are prepared to act on them with the urgency and discipline they require.

When I first stepped into this role, Bloomington was moving forward—investment was steady, confidence was high, and while challenges existed, the trajectory pointed upward.
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Today, that trajectory feels less certain.

This is not a statement of decline. It is a recognition that we are at an inflection point—and how we respond in the next 12 to 24 months will shape Bloomington’s economic future for years to come.

​The City Council unanimously approved to move forward in the first part to designate the Catalent expansion as a revitalization area.  Final approval of the tax abatement in exchange for $350 million in investment and 1,000 new jobs will be on March 2nd after a public hearing.  Bloomington is competing with Louisville, Madison, and Kansas City.  $10 million of this investment will be to develop real property.  The Real property would be abated at a rate of 50 percent a year for 10 years, while the larger portion is the personal property, which is 90 percent for 20 years.   The impact of the abatement on TIF revenue would not be significant as it is calculated on real property but not personal.  The Impact on COB revenue would not be significant.  Local taxes are collected is based on the City’s budget.  The abatement does not reduce total revenue on a dollar-for-dollar basis, but rather spreads that loss to the other taxpayers.  Where the issue comes is how close we are to the state-restricted CAPS which puts a levy on the amount a tax can go up. According to the the City’s Alex Crowley does not believe it will be an issue.   The main reservation from the Council was housing, where are these people going to live?  Currently, half of Catalent’s 3,212 workforce lives outside the county which Monroe County reaps no financial benefit from. 
Get involved, contact your City Council representative to voice your opinion.  

A group of over 200 people heard from economists and economic development experts at the 2021 Business Outlook Luncheon, co-sponsored by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and the Bloomington Rotary Club. The Nov. 9 event was held at IU Alumni Hall. 

Panelists were Kyle Anderson and Jennifer Lynn Rice of the IU Kelley School of Business, Ryan Brewer of the IU Columbus Division of Business, and Jennifer Pearl of the Bloomington Economic Development Corp.

​Watch a recording of the event here.

Holly Warren has been named the City of Bloomington's Assistant Director for the Arts, a position within the Economic & Sustainability Development Department.

​The position represents the city to other organizations in issues related to arts and culture, oversees and coordinates public art projects, cultural activities and community events, and supports community artists and cultural organizations.  

Warren began on Sept. 7 and replaces Sean Starowitz, who served in this role from 2016 until 2021.  Her  annual salary is $56,746.

The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association is seeking applicants to serve on its board, which meets monthly. The applicant must live in the BUEA zone and be affiliated with the non-dominant political party. (In Bloomington, the Democratic Party is the dominant political party.)

More information about the BUEA's work and how to apply can be found at ​https://bloomington.in.gov/business/buea.

The City of Bloomington has released survey results showing preferences for how to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the city is receiving.

Of the 147 responses, priorities were: 36% housing insecurity, 31% public infrastructure, 23% jobs/economic recovery, and 10% city revenue replacement. The choice of these "bucket" categories had already been determined by the city.
Read more about the survey here.