Click the video to watch the latest episode of Chamber Insider Update. ​

​Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s Success School, Monroe County Community Schools and Richland Bean Blossom Community Schools are collaborating toward a shared goal of providing opportunities for student success after high school while simultaneously strengthening the regional talent pipeline in the Uplands region. Listed below are ways local employers can assist in these efforts.

NOTE: This news article featuring Senior Director of Government & Community Relations, Christopher Emge, was originally published by IDS - Safin Khatri on Sunday, January 26th, 2025.

On a cold and snowy Saturday in Bloomington, Book Corner buzzes with life, providing an escape from the elements. College students browse the shelves, stopping to read the back cover. A few blocks away, Cherry Canary Vintage Clothing hums with the sounds of hangers sliding across the racks, as colorful garments from past decades surround shoppers in the search for the perfect retro piece. These scenes are increasingly common in Bloomington as many members of Gen Z find comfort in retro and vintage lifestyles. 
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Edward Hirt, a professor of social psychology at IU, said in an email that nostalgia through stories, movies and depictions of events can give people a sense of meaningfulness in their lives, even if they have not physically lived it themselves.  

​The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has announced a new organizational plan to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen its commitment to delivering exceptional member experiences.

“Our new model realigns key leadership roles and adds a new full-time position to better support the Chamber’s mission and evolving strategic goals,” said Eric Spoonmore, President & CEO of the Chamber.

Effective immediately, the following organizational changes have been made:

• Katie Sensabaugh has been named Vice President of Operations and Membership. In this role, she will oversee all aspects of the Chamber’s membership experience, including recruitment, retention, and stewardship, while continuing to lead operational strategies for the organization.
• Christopher Emge has been promoted to Senior Director for Government and Community Relations. He will continue to lead the Chamber’s government affairs initiatives and will now oversee all aspects of the Chamber’s Success School programming, which serves over 4,200 local students.
• Stacia Briggs has been promoted to Member Services Manager. She will oversee volunteer management, operational tasks, and member experience duties.

To support the Chamber’s growing event portfolio, a new full-time Program Coordinator position has been created. Reporting to Communications and Events Director Kaytee Lorentzen, this role will focus on managing 60 events annually.

“Our team of extraordinary professionals continues to lead the way in designing innovative programs, business resources, and advocacy strategies that benefit not only our members but also the greater community,” Spoonmore said. “The Chamber’s new organizational plan puts us  in a strong position for continued growth and success as we commence our 110th year serving the business community.”
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For more information about the Chamber’s programs and initiatives, please visit ChamberBloomington.org.

Click the video to watch the latest episode of Chamber Insider Update. ​

We wanted to bring your attention to a significant update regarding the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements. 
 
What Happened?
On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, a federal district court in Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that: 

• Enjoins enforcement of the CTA and its regulations related to BOI reporting requirements. 
• Stays all deadlines for compliance, including the January 1, 2025 deadline for reporting companies to submit their initial BOI report. 

 
Following this ruling, the Department of Justice, representing the Department of the Treasury, filed an appeal on December 5, 2024.
 
What This Means for Reporting Companies
As long as the preliminary injunction remains in effect: 

• Reporting companies are NOT required to report BOI to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). 
• Companies will NOT face liability for failing to report their BOI. 

 
However, FinCEN has clarified that companies may still voluntarily submit BOI reports if they choose to do so. 
 
What Lies Ahead?
The future of the CTA and its reporting requirements remains uncertain. The Texas district court’s decision is just one of several ongoing legal challenges. There are conflicting rulings from other federal district courts, and three related cases are currently under appeal. Because of this, it is crucial to stay updated on developments, as the situation could evolve rapidly.
 
Next Steps
We are continuously monitoring these developments and will advise clients as needed. Be prepared that the requirement to comply in the future if the CTA is ultimately upheld is a possibility. For further information, please visit the FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting and the AICPA beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting pages.
 
If you would like more detailed information on the legal case, please refer to Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., No. 4:24-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.) injunction.