​The Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will state-wide tour, Futurecast: Economic Outlook, will come to Bloomington, Ind. on November 9th at the Monroe Convention Center for the 2024 economic forecast in partnership with The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and the Bloomington Rotary Club. The tour will begin in Indianapolis, Ind. beginning November 1st, 2023.

The Kelley School of Business based on research its Indiana Business Research Center, has been sharing its economic forecasts throughout the state of Indiana for the past 50 years, which has provided crucial economic information needed by many Indiana businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations. This event, previously known as Business Outlook, gives the audience a chance to hear and interact with several of the state's leading economic thinkers as they discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana, and the nation in the coming year.

“The annual Futurecast event gives our community an inside look into the leading economic research and data analysis at IU’s Kelley School of Business,” said Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Eric Spoonmore. “We are delighted to partner with the Kelley School of Business and the Bloomington Rotary Club to inform our member organizations on the current economic conditions that can guide strategic decision-making in the year ahead.”  ​

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce announced the individuals and organizations that will be honored at this year’s 108th Annual Meeting & Community Awards celebration. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 7th, 2023, at the Monroe Convention Center. At the Annual Meeting, the Chamber’s President & CEO, Eric Spoonmore, will provide a year in review, highlighting accomplishments and member news with attendees, as well as sharing future plans. The Chamber will also recognize and honor several members who have been nominated for a variety of awards.
 
This year’s awards and winners are:

• New Business of the Year: Pristine House Cleaning
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has existed for less than five years.
• Business of the Year: Duke Energy
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has existed for five years or more.
• Community Anchor: Middle Way House
  • Recognizes a business or organization that has contributed positively to the local community over a sustained period.
• 4 Under 40 Awards: Marisa Churchill – Girls, Inc. of Monroe County, Sandra McGow – Bell Trace Senior Living Community, Esthela O’Neill – Ivy Tech Community College, and Michele Suttile – Sincerely Yours Weddings & Premier Events
  • Recognizes young professionals that make a significant impact within their organization through their leadership and work ethic, while also giving back to the community through civic involvement.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Christopher Schrader – Schrader and Associates
  • Recognizes individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on our community over a sustained period.

“The Chamber is delighted to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of these businesses and individuals,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “Their notable contributions to our community represent the best of Bloomington and Monroe County and exemplify the core values of the Chamber.”

Along with the annual meeting and awards presentation, the ceremonial "Passing of the Gavel" will occur as the outgoing board chair steps aside for the new leadership, and both individuals address the crowd.

The 108th Annual Meeting & Community Awards celebration will include time to network among attendees prior to the annual meeting and awards presentation. The event will begin at 11:00a.m. and conclude at 1:00p.m. For more information about the 108th Annual Meeting & Community Awards, contact The Chamber at (812) 336‐3681 or visit The Chamber’s website at ChamberBloomington.org.

At a forum for mayoral candidates hosted on Monday night by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, not a lot of new, additional daylight emerged between the three candidates as far as their known policy positions.

But a sharp difference in perspective emerged in response to a couple of the questions—one involving public safety and another involving the working relationship between city and county governments.
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Moderating the forum was Paul Helmke, who was a three-term mayor of Fort Wayne, and is a professor of practice at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is inviting interested parties for lunch and conversation on Justice Reform on Tuesday, November 15th at the Elks Lodge located at 400 N. Walnut St. in Bloomington.

“This important discussion will inform the public on the many complexities of our local system of criminal justice including the need for a new jail facility in Monroe County,” said Eric Spoonmore, the Chamber’s President & CEO.
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What Justice Reform Entails. There will need to be a new justice center to replace the one built in 1985. According to the 2020 Criminal Justice & Incarceration Study conducted by the RJS Justice Services, “The jail facility is failing and cannot ensure consistent and sustainable provision of constitutional rights of incarcerated persons. The report goes on to declare, “daily inmate population exceeded the jail’s functional capacity on most days since 2004 and all days per year consecutively since 2015.” Beyond the new justice center, the study reveals that 75-80% of the daily 250-320 inmates have some sort of mental illness or substance abuse issue.  The current facility does not have the space nor the staff of mental health professionals to address this issue.