Amplify Bloomington Launches Builder's Room to Help Local Businesses Build Their Own AI Tools

Program funded by the state's Community Collaboration Fund will train established Bloomington-area business owners to build custom digital tools — no coding required

Amplify Bloomington, in partnership with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, today 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.

Building globally competitive small businesses isn’t just good for those individual companies — it’s the foundation of a resilient, growing local economy, said John Fernandez, CEO of Amplify Bloomington. Builder’s Room gives our business owners the tools to compete and win, using the same technology the biggest companies in the world are using, without needing a technical team to do it.”

“As Bloomington’s business community continues to grow and modernize, programs like Builder’s Room are exactly the kind of hands-on support our members need,” said Eric Spoonmore, President and CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to helping local businesses stay competitive and thrive for years to come.”

Builder's Room is led by facilitator John Skolak, with support from Amplify Bloomington's Head of Entrepreneurship Growth, Tobey Wyatt. Applications are open now for established Bloomington-area businesses ready to put AI to work. The program's promotional partners include the City of Bloomington and the Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington.

To apply or learn more, visit: amplifybloomington.org/builders-room