0 Comments
Community development and small business projects in 13 Indiana counties will have new opportunities for growth under lending partnerships announced today by CDFI Friendly Bloomington (CFB).
Loans with Allies for Community Business Will Help Bloomington Entrepreneurs Through a partnership with Allies for Community Business (A4CB), a Midwest-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), entrepreneurs within the city limits of Bloomington will have increased access to loan funds designed to start and grow their small businesses. Through a $50,000 loan program, CFB and A4CB will work together to identify entrepreneurs who are not only seeking loans, but also business coaching and other services, emphasizing businesses located within Bloomington’s Urban Enterprise Zone. Allies for Community Business provides loans from $500 to $500,000, with an organizational vision to help entrepreneurs from any background start and grow businesses that create generational wealth for their families and communities. The City of Bloomington invites residents and visitors to take part in its 2026 Black History Month events, beginning with a Kick-Off Celebration on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at City Hall (401 N. Morton Street). Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers. The event is free and open to the public.
The 2026 Black History Month theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” recognizes the history and contributions that have shaped local and national culture and highlights opportunities for the community to connect through music, performance, and youth expression. The kickoff event will feature a performing arts showcase highlighting local students, artists, and performers. The program, Showcasing the Performing Arts, will be emceed by Nia I’man Smith, doctoral candidate in ethnomusicology and host of Sonic Blacknuss on WFHB. The City of Bloomington is inviting residents, builders, and community partners to take a closer look at Hopewell and a broader conversation about what housing attainability can look like when development is designed to reflect Bloomington’s values.
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the City will host “Cultivating Neighborhoods & the Small-Scale Development Movement,” a free public learning event focused on Hopewell and the City’s evolving approach to development and development reform. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bloomington City Hall, Council Chambers (Room 115), 401 N. Morton Street. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and seating is first-come, first-served. Time will be reserved for questions and discussion. Registration is required. “As Indiana’s most housing cost-burdened metro area, Bloomington needs more housing, of all shapes and sizes, for more people,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Hopewell is our opportunity to rethink how neighborhoods grow in ways that are more attainable, more local, and more reflective of who we are as a community.” Tax season is here, and United Way of South Central Indiana (UWSCI), in partnership with local organizations, is offering free in-person and online tax preparation through its 2026 Free Community Tax Service. Beginning Tuesday, January 27, IRS-certified volunteers will serve community members at eight in-person sites across Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties.
Hoosiers earning $67,000 or less annually may qualify for free assistance with filing both federal and Indiana state tax returns. Tax preparation is provided at no cost, with trained volunteers working one-on-one with clients to help ensure they receive every dollar they’re eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). One site managed by the AARP Tax-Aide Program, located at Endwright East at the Bloomington College Mall, does not have income or age requirements for service. DK Strategic Marketing Edge Launches January 28; Focused on Driving Growth for Small Businesses1/28/2026  DK Strategic Marketing Edge formally launched on January 28. The consulting firm is focused on helping small businesses and higher education units grow their revenue through a disciplined, proven approach. The business is led by Darren Klein, Founder and President. Darren has over 25 years of experience in strategic marketing, helping drive growth at Procter and Gamble and IU. He learned the disciplined approach to growth marketing at P&G and applied it as the Director of Marketing for Kelley Direct Online Programs, the Kelley School of Business, and IU Online over the past 20 years in Bloomington. Under his leadership, each of those units experienced significant growth in enrollments and revenue. If you are interested in discussing how DK Strategic Marketing Edge can help your business grow, feel free to reach out to Darren directly at [email protected] or book at appointment at https://calendly.com/dksme.   Please join us in welcoming Mona Mellinger to Owen County State Bank as our new Vice President of Business Development! Mona brings a wealth of experience to OCSB, with an extensive background in banking that spans both retail and commercial lending, as well as leadership and management roles. Her deep industry knowledge and commitment to community focused service make her an outstanding addition to our team. Whether you’re exploring business lending options, looking to grow your business, or seeking guidance on the right financial solutions. She is ready to support businesses of every size.
We are proud to welcome Mona to OCSB and look forward to the expertise and energy she will bring to our organization! Day & Time: March 5, 2026 from 11a-2p
Location: Franklin Hall Commons, IUB Campus Description: Are you a media employer looking for interns or early career hires? The Media School at IU is home to students studying in many different areas including Advertising Management, Creative Advertising, Public Relations, Film Production, TV Production, Written Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Entertainment Media, Game Design, Sports Media, Fashion Media and more! Our students represent the best and brightest talent coming up in these industries in the Midwest, and we can't wait for you to meet them! This fair is free to employers. We look forward to hosting you soon. The organizations do not need to be media in nature to enroll in the fair, we just ask that they are seeking either an intern/full time role that is media related (videography, social media, communications etc.) If an organization is interested in attending the fair, they can email Ian Fournie at [email protected] for more information & instructions.  Join Hurlow Wealth Management Group's Women’s Financial Book Club: Women, Wealth, and Wisdom. This winter, they will be reading The New Retirementality by Mitch Anthony.
The book club's goals: 1. Create a safe space for women to ask financial questions. 2. Educate women about money issues they commonly avoid. 3. Empower women to make financial decisions. 4. Encourage women to share the knowledge with other women. BONUS: To relax and have a little fun! Participants will get together for a discussion in-person on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Hurlow Wealth Management Group office. The Hawaiian Hoosier Snack & Gifts announced today that it earned Best Overall Chili at the FreezeFest Chilly Cook-Off, a community chili competition and fundraiser benefiting Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard. The cook-off took place Friday, January 23, 2026 (5:00–7:00 p.m.) at the Switchyard Park Pavilion as part of Bloomington’s annual FreezeFest winter festival. FreezeFest is a two-day community celebration at Switchyard Park featuring live ice carving and enchanting ice sculptures, local vendors, and wintertime fun that draws families and friends outdoors even when Indiana decides to set the thermostat to “polar.” Guests watched ice sculptors transform massive blocks of ice into crowd-pleasing works of art while warming up with chili samples during the festival’s kickoff cook-off. The event was made possible through key community partners, including Visit Bloomington as the main event sponsor, along with Cook Medical and the City of Bloomington Parks & Recreation.
|
Check out our Chamber Members news on this blog!
Share your news with us!Submit your news to the Chamber by the 10th or 26th of each month to be included in the bi-weekly Membership Matters emails. Archives
Archives
June 2026
Webpage Square Ad Banner spaces are available for members. Download our sizes and pricing sheet for more information by clicking the button below.
|
|
|
Copyright The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.