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NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the July 8, 2021 Bloomington Herald-Times.  By now you’ve likely heard about the amazing opportunity our community has with the availability of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA. More than $50 million collectively will be coming to the county, going to Monroe County government (about $29 million), the city of Bloomington (about $22 million) and Ellettsville (about $1.5 million).
Our local government leaders are soliciting input for how to allocate these funds, which are intended to help post-pandemic recovery. I’d like to contribute a suggestion that would make a meaningful, long-term impact on our community: universal child care. We know the importance of child care in ensuring that our labor force is strong – and if we didn’t know it before, we certainly learned it during the pandemic. Parents struggled to manage their jobs while tending to children who needed attention during the workday.
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NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the March 12, 2021 Bloomington Herald-Times.  Erin Predmore Was it really only a year ago when businesses were bracing for the pandemic tsunami and preparing to hunker down?
We’ve all gone through so much during the past 12 months. Like almost everyone else, we’re beyond eager to put the pandemic behind us. You can almost feel the vibrations of pent-up energy as temperatures warm, vaccinations roll out and COVID-19 case numbers decline. As the restrictions we’ve been working under start to relax, please remember our local businesses as you make plans to get out and about in ways you haven’t done for the past year. The next two months are crucial. Many businesses count on revenues they make now in order to carry them through the summer, when things are typically slower and sales are down. That’s true in any year, but even more so as we emerge from the pandemic. For many businesses, these past 12 months have seen sales plummet. Facing a sluggish summer makes it all the more important to boost sales now, especially for businesses that cater to students. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Jan. 8, 2021 Bloomington Herald-Times.  The Success School is the philanthropic arm of the Chamber of Commerce, working in partnership with MCCSC and RBBSC to produce graduates ready for work, career and success. For 30 years, Chamber member volunteers have led career panels, elementary career fairs, job skills seminars, financial literacy classes, job shadowing, STEM and Life Science Fairs, and Reality Stores ®, exposing K-12 students to excellent career opportunities in Monroe County.
Guided by the Success School Advisory Council, the programs focus on five keys: Career Exploration, Job Skills, Financial Readiness, Soft Skills and Entrepreneurship. Each program is developed to align with Indiana curriculum standards and designed to support work already occurring in the classroom. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Nov. 13, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times.  Erin Predmore During the Longest Year Ever, the holidays are nearly upon us.
Your gift-giving this year takes on an even more meaningful role, as many local businesses are struggling from the pandemic’s impact. And while the sentiment of “Buy Local” is important year-round, it’s even more so during the holiday season. Retailers in particular make the bulk of their profits during the fourth quarter and rely on robust sales now to stay in business the rest of the year. Consumer optimism is rising, which is a good sign. According to the October U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index, Americans are growing more optimistic about the economy than at any point since the pandemic began, but their optimism is still below levels reported at the start of 2020. There is cautious optimism locally, too. But that’s tempered with the early exodus of Indiana University students, as classes end before Thanksgiving and won’t start up again in person until February. So as you plan your holiday gift-giving this year, please consider spending your gift dollars locally. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Oct. 9, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times.  Erin Predmore This year, the presidential election is sucking all the oxygen out of the room as we head toward Nov. 3. It’s certainly a crucial race, and not just for the business community.
But here’s the thing: While presidential candidates receive much-deserved attention and scrutiny, many of the down-ballot races go virtually unnoticed. How many times in the past have you filled out your ballot and wondered: “Who the heck are these people?” The candidates we elect for local and state offices have a direct impact on our daily lives. They make decisions that impact businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions and individuals. They decide how our tax dollars are spent. They make policies and regulations that affect how your business can operate and whether you can thrive. They hire and oversee our school superintendents. They determine how laws are applied. And most of them do this in relative anonymity. NOTE: This "It's Your Business" column by Chamber CEO Erin Predmore was published in the Aug. 14, 2020 Bloomington Herald-Times.  Erin Predmore Earlier this summer, we unveiled an important historical marker for our community as a whole, for the business community, and most importantly, for the Black business community.
In the 1960s, a business called The Black Market operated in the spot where Peoples Park is located now. Owned and run by IU grad student Rollo Turner, it was a Bloomington store celebrating Black culture, with African art, clothing, and music. It was a welcoming place for Black IU students and community members to gather. On December 26, 1968, in a violent reaction to the civil rights movement, the Black Market was firebombed. What was one moment a thriving, locally owned business and center for Black culture became in the next moment a burning symbol of hatred and racism. The store was destroyed in the fire. |
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