 Photo Credit: Dave Martin, David Martin Design LLC, Amplify Bloomington Ambassador, Chamber member since 2021. On February 25, the Bloomington Press Club hosted John Fernandez, CEO of Amplify Bloomington, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of economic development in Monroe County. The event, held at Ivy Tech Community College and supported by the Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe County, drew an engaged audience of community members and business leaders.
Fernandez described Amplify Bloomington as a regional innovation platform built to accelerate entrepreneurship-led economic growth—one that extends the foundation laid by The Mill (Dimension Mill), which helped catalyze The Forge, the Trades District, and more than $52 million in ecosystem investment. The goal is to create a unified platform that connects founders and growing companies with IU research, regional institutions, and local resources in ways that were previously fragmented. A central theme of Fernandez's remarks was urgency. He noted that Bloomington has the assets to compete with celebrated university towns like Boulder, Ann Arbor, and Fort Collins—but that competing requires intentionality. "Bloomington needs to be in that sentence," he said, adding that growing and retaining companies locally creates an outsized "flywheel effect" on the broader regional economy. He pointed to Cook Medical as a model: a company deeply embedded in the community because its founders lived here and built their lives here.
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Best Food Forward Bloomington Announces Vision for “The 812” Hospitality & Creative Exchange2/27/2026  Best Food Forward Bloomington Announces Vision for “The 812” Hospitality & Creative Exchange
Best Food Forward Bloomington has unveiled an expanded vision for “The 812,” a proposed Hospitality & Creative Exchange designed to strengthen Bloomington’s entrepreneurial and workforce ecosystem. The concept centers around a vertically integrated Living Classroom — a dynamic, multi-use environment where culinary education, entrepreneurship incubation, creative activation, coworking, and community events operate together under one roof. The goal is to create real pathways from education to business ownership while supporting the broader hospitality and creative sectors. On February 24, 2026, the Bloomington Board of Public Works approved guidelines for the 2026 downtown outdoor dining season, following staff recommendations and the review process established under City ordinance. These guidelines include language stating that Kirkwood Avenue will remain open to vehicles under a shared-street model (accommodating motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians together), while allowing food service establishments to install parklets in the parking spaces in front of their properties.
Kirkwood Avenue is a public right-of-way. As a public street, it serves restaurants, retailers, service businesses, property owners, employees, residents, visitors, delivery operations, transit, emergency services, downtown festival organizers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. Outdoor dining in the Kirkwood right-of-way began as a temporary pandemic-era measure. In subsequent years, the City evaluated corridor operations and transitioned the program into a regulated seasonal structure. Use of the right-of-way for this purpose is governed by an ordinance adopted by the Bloomington Common Council. City of Bloomington Announces 14th Annual Eco-Heroes Art Contest to Celebrate Our Nature at Night2/25/2026 The Bloomington Environmental Commission announced the 14th Annual Linda P. Thompson Eco-Heroes Art Contest, encouraging residents of all ages to explore the importance of native insects through artistic expression. This year’s theme, “Our Nature at Night,” invites participants to explore the fascinating world that comes alive after sunset.
First-, second-, and third-place winners selected in the following categories:
Participants may submit artwork in a variety of creative formats, including:
 TradeWins, a locally based blue-collar collective, has officially launched with a mission to help residential contractors build stronger, more sustainable businesses. The organization was created to address a challenge common across the trades: most contractors were taught how to do the work, but very few were ever taught how to intentionally build the business underneath it.
As trade businesses grow, that missing foundation often shows up as owner dependency, stress, unclear decision-making, and limited long-term options. TradeWins exists to close that gap through education, structure, and hands-on support, delivered locally by experienced operators who have built and run trade businesses themselves. “Most contractors aren’t failing,” said Jay Nelson, co-founder of TradeWins. “They were never taught how to build a business. I started a roofing company from the back of my car and learned that lesson the hard way. Hiring a coach and learning structure changed not just the company, but my life. I was a contractor first. Now I’m also a coach because I don’t think others should have to figure this out alone. TradeWins exists to help owners build businesses that work without burning them out.” Based on Dan Brown’s International Best-Seller | March 26 – April 12Experience the thrill. Unravel the mystery.
This spring, Constellation is bringing Dan Brown’s international best-seller to life on stage. Don’t miss the Indiana premiere of The Da Vinci Code, directed by Chad Rabinovitz, playing March 26 - April 12 at the Waldron Auditorium. When the curator of the Louvre is found murdered under mysterious circumstances, symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu are thrust into an investigation that quickly unravels into a deadly conspiracy. As they follow a trail of cryptic puzzles and ancient codes, they discover a secret that could change the course of history. Packed with pulse-pounding suspense and stunning visuals, The Da Vinci Code is an exhilarating journey into the unknown.  The City of Bloomington is formally announcing that John Garzee has joined the Engineering Department as Traffic Engineer, where he will coordinate transportation improvements and oversee traffic operations.
John brings more than seven years of experience in municipal traffic engineering and most recently served at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. He engineered several public sector transportation projects, including new bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, curb extensions, and traffic-calming devices. “Transportation should work for everyone, no matter how they travel,” Garzee said. “That means ensuring our infrastructure is safe, accessible, and practical. I look forward to working with and for our neighbors as we make Bloomington safer for all. In partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), please join us for the Region 8 Power-Up Forum as follows:
What: Power-Up Forum When: Wednesday, March 4th Where: Ivy Tech Bloomington, Shreve Hall Time: 10:00am - Noon Employers will learn about important Power-Up Campaign updates and how to apply for business grants to support training and wage gains. Indiana's new incentive program rewards employers to grow wages, build stronger teams, and turn talent development into a long-term business advantage. Please see the attached Power-Up Indiana Fast Facts and the official agenda for your review. To register for the Power-Up Forum, please: View form |
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