​The public is invited to an online legislative update to be held Saturday, January 22, from 9:30-11 a.m., on Zoom. The event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Bloomington-Monroe County, the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters of Brown County, and the Brown County Chamber of Commerce.
 
State Senators Erich Koch (District 44) and Shelli Yoder (District 40), and State Representatives Jeff Ellington (District 62), Bob Heaton (District 46), Chris May (District 55), Peggy Mayfield (District 60), and Matt Pierce (District 61) representing Monroe and Brown Counties have been invited to report on their work and priorities for the current session of the Indiana General Assembly and to take questions from attendees.

​After careful consideration and consultation with partners and sponsors, United Way of Monroe County regrets to share that the 2022 Chilly Cook-Off will not take place as initially planned. The United Way team looks forward to hosting the event in 2023 when we can all hopefully resume large in-person events safely.
 
The Chilly Cook-Off is intended to support United Way’s work in Monroe, Owen, and Greene counties, and donations in lieu of attendance may be made at monroeunitedway.org/givenow.
 
United Way recognizes these outstanding partners for their support of the 2022 Cook-Off: Activity Sponsors, Old National Bank and Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington; Partnership Sponsor, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University Bloomington; and In-Kind Sponsor, Chocolate Moose.
 
The Chilly Cook-Off was slated to be a part of the second annual Freezefest, a community winter celebration. Freezefest will take place January 20-22, 2022 featuring world-class ice carvers and a full lineup of winter activities. Visit www.freezefest.com for more information and a full schedule and map of festival activities.
 
“United Way deeply appreciates all of the partners, volunteers, sponsors, and chefs, and the work that has been done toward this event,” shared United Way Executive Director Efrat Feferman. “We look forward to enjoying the various outdoors Freezefest activities this year and hope the community takes advantage of the unique festival’s offering. We also look forward to returning to the Chilly Cook-Off next year and building upon it in years to come.”

Baugh Fine Print & Mailing is an independent and locally owned family business for over 30 years, and they have gotten a new logo. Baugh is a full service commercial printing, bulk mailing, promo products and apparel. From offset printing, typesetting, graphic design and engraving to embossing and laser forms. They can do it all, whether you need 500 or 5,000 they can print it. Baugh is known for fast turnaround and top-level customer service. They have the experience and the equipment to produce everything today's business professional needs.

First posted by Indiana Public Media on January 5, 2022 at https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/bloomington-brewing-company-changes-ownership-after-27-years.php

Bloomington Brewing Company is changing hands for the first time since it opened 27 years ago.

Founders Jeff Mease and Lennie Busch announced Wednesday Amanda and Jarrod Franklin of Bloomington purchased BBC along with partners of Indianapolis brewery Four Day Ray.

Mease says the sale doesn’t affect their other businesses such as Lennie’s or HIVE.

“Lennie and I were never brewers; we came to this thing through more like a love of localism. So, it was time.”
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Mease and Busch built the brewery next to Lennie’s restaurant in the Crosstown II Shopping Center on E. 10th Street to help support their hospitality business. It was the first craft brewery to open in Southern Indiana.

​​Today The Mill, a nonprofit center for entrepreneurship and coworking, announced the launch of a second date for Crossroads Pitch Competition, its statewide competition for Indiana-based startups. Now in its fifth year, the flagship Crossroads event occurs in fall. Applications are open for the new spring event, with finals scheduled to take place in March.
 
See how Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is gaining momentum at https://www.crossroadspitch.com/
 
“Indiana’s startup scene is hot right now,” said Andy Lehman, Head of Accelerator Programming at The Mill, “and fast access to capital is essential to startup growth. Founders can’t afford to wait a whole year for the next Crossroads. We’re adding a spring event to expand the window of opportunity and grow Indiana’s innovation economy.”
 
The winner of Crossroads receives a prize package of cash and in-kind services valued at over $10,000, as well as priority consideration to pitch at Elevate Ventures’ prestigious Nexus Pitch Competition for the chance to win up to $80,000 more. Competitors also connect to the state’s startup ecosystem leaders by gaining exposure to Crossroads judges, a panel of over 30 representatives from state and regional investors, entrepreneurs, and business experts.