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NOTE: This news article featuring the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, was originally published by Building Indiana Business on Monday, July 13th, 2026. Amplify Bloomington, in partnership with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, announced the launch of Builder's Room, a free six-week program that will teach established local business owners how to use AI to design and build the digital tools their businesses actually need — from automated customer follow-ups to back-office dashboards — with no coding experience or technical background required.
The program is supported by a $39,834 grant from Indiana's Community Collaboration Fund (CCF), part of a broader round of state awards announced by Governor Mike Braun on July 6 to strengthen entrepreneurship and small-business growth across Indiana. The Builder's Room was one of 22 community-led, regionally driven projects selected statewide for 2026 CCF funding, which totaled $757,000 and is expected to leverage $1.18 million in total investment to serve more than 6,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state. Over the course of six weeks, Builder's Room participants will move from identifying a real problem in their business to demoing a working, custom-built solution — such as automated follow-up systems, customer-facing chatbots, simple reporting tools, or streamlined quoting systems — at a live Showcase & Demo Day. The program is open to established businesses in the Bloomington area and is built around the schedules of busy owners.
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NOTE: This media advisory featuring the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, was originally published by Indiana University on Thursday, October 9th, 2025.  The 2023 Futurecast panelists at the Indianapolis ArtsGarden in downtown Indianapolis. Photo courtesy of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business How will deregulation, artificial intelligence and U.S. tariffs affect economic growth and the rate of inflation in coming months? Will the Federal Reserve again cut rates, with some governmental data suggesting a softening labor market looming? Will the economic picture become clearer in 2026?
And how will the Indiana economy perform, in comparison with the nation? What will result from the state’s new economic development strategy? Economists at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business will address these and other questions during their Futurecast 2026 economic outlook tour, which begins Oct. 29 in downtown Indianapolis. They will present economic forecasts for the nation, Indiana and communities across the state. Beginning with the 8 a.m. event at the Indianapolis Artsgarden, panelists will provide insights on predicted trends in gross domestic product growth, inflation, interest rates, employment and industry. They will evaluate the most likely scenarios overall for businesses and factors that may shape both the economy and financial markets next year. Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s Foundation – The Success School, Monroe County Community Schools, and Richland-Bean Blossom Community Schools have announced a new partnership aimed at strengthening the regional talent pipeline in the Uplands region. This collaboration focuses on providing students with opportunities for success after high school through various career exploration and skill-building initiatives.
The partnership comes at a crucial time as local employers seek new ways to develop a skilled workforce while offering high school students hands-on experience in various fields. "By working together, we are ensuring that students are well-equipped with the knowledge and experience they need to succeed after graduation, while also addressing the ongoing workforce needs of our local businesses," said Christopher Emge, Senior Director of Government & Community Relations of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Through a variety of opportunities, local businesses are invited to get involved and help shape the next generation of talent. These opportunities include job shadowing, mock interviews, mentorship programs, company tours, career discovery meetings, and more. Employers will have the chance to directly engage with students through in-person or virtual events such as career fairs, panel discussions, and internships. Additionally, employers can collaborate with students through mentorship opportunities or by participating in student-run business initiatives. NOTE: This Legislative Update featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published on CATS on Monday, April 21st, 2025. The Leagues of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Johnson County, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to co-sponsor this event.
NOTE: This Legislative Update featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published on CATS on Monday, March 10th, 2025. The Leagues of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Johnson County, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to co-sponsor this event. NOTE: This Legislative Update was originally published on CATS on Monday, February 18th, 2025. The Leagues of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, and Johnson County, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to co-sponsor this event. PRESS RELEASE: The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Acquires Best Places to Work Awards9/26/2024  The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and The Mill are excited to announce the transition of the Best Places to Work awards program to the Chamber. This initiative, which has been a fixture in Bloomington’s business community since 2018, will enter an exciting new chapter under the Chamber’s stewardship, with the first event scheduled for November 2025.
Originally created by The Mill in partnership with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) and the Herald Times, the Best Places to Work awards were designed to celebrate the exceptional companies that contribute to Bloomington’s vibrant work environment. The initiative was developed with a goal to highlight and recognize local businesses while ensuring a low barrier to entry so that all companies could participate and be acknowledged. The Best Places to Work awards recognize companies based on comprehensive survey feedback, assessing various aspects of workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and overall work environment. The results are compiled from surveys distributed to both employees and employers, reflecting the organizations’ commitment to fostering positive workplace environments.
 This year marks the debut of the Valor Awards, a distinguished ceremony brought to you by the Exchange Club of Northside Bloomington in partnership with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. The ceremony is dedicated to honoring the bravery and selflessness of our first responders—firefighters, law enforcement, dispatch, and correctional center officers. Set to spotlight these everyday heroes, the Valor Awards will recognize one individual from each sector for their exemplary service. The event, proudly presented by Old National Bank and Weddle Brothers, will unfold at the Monroe Convention Center on Wednesday, May 8th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Nominations were solicited from Monroe County entities in four categories: law enforcement, fire, dispatch, and correctional center, with an outside selection committee tasked with reviewing submissions. The winners of each category will be announced during the awards presentation. The following individuals have been nominated in recognition for their outstanding service:
 The MCCSC Equity Spotlight Award is an award that recognizes students, faculty, staff, student organizations and community partners for their commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment reflective of MCCSC's mission, vision, and core values.
Katie Sensabaugh, Director of the Chamber's Foundation & Internal Operations, was awarded the MCCSC Equity Spotlight Award by the the Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Markay Winston, at the school board meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Sensabaugh was selected for this award because of her valuable service, leadership, and dedication to shaping the future workforce and providing opportunities for ALL students. PRESS RELEASE: Chamber Receives Generous PPE Donation from Cook Medical for Community Distribution5/28/2020 Bloomington, IN – The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce received a donation on behalf of the community this week from Cook Medical who donated 84,000 face masks and 180 gallon-sized bottles of hand sanitizer to be distributed to the local business community. The Chamber will be storing the supplies and distributing them to businesses and organizations through the community.
“The Chamber staff is grateful to Cook Medical for this donation of necessary supplies to help get our city and county back to business while keeping our community safe and healthy,” said Erin Predmore, the Chamber’s President & CEO. “We have been working hard to support our business community in any way we can during this time of crisis, and we are happy to be able to help now in this way by distributing PPE and supplies to the businesses and organizations who need it most.” |
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