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The Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC), in collaboration with the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA), has released applications for the 2026 Arts Project Grants. This grant is one of three cycles that the City releases each year. In the past, project grants have supported music festivals, film, theatre, arts supplies, recordings, a poetry series, and pop-up galleries, among many other activities and disciplines.
Arts Project Grants support public-facing projects and programming in Bloomington or Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) schools. Awards are limited to $4,000. Applications are open through Thursday, April 23. Applications will be reviewed by the Bloomington Arts Commission Grants Subcommittee, and awards will be announced in June 2026. Additional details can be found at bloomington.in.gov/arts/grants. “Given the shifting landscape for arts funding across the country, the BAC is grateful to the City Council and the BUEA for sustaining a high level of support for our grants program,” said Gerard Pannekoek, BAC Grants Committee Co-chair. “These funds directly support the work of local artists and arts organizations and help keep our city vibrant."
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Indiana Members Credit Union Celebrates Bottleworks Headquarters Grand Opening and 70th Anniversary3/16/2026  Indiana Members Credit Union (IMCU) celebrated the grand opening of its Bottleworks Corporate Headquarters with a ribbon cutting and community celebration, marking not only a new chapter for the organization but also its 70th anniversary of serving Hoosiers since its founding in 1956.
The grand opening of the Bottleworks headquarters, located at 835 N. College Avenue, Suite 1120, took place on Wednesday, March 11, with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by IMCU leadership, staff, community partners, and guests. The event commemorated IMCU’s continued growth and commitment to the Indianapolis community while honoring seven decades of member-focused service. Heading Home of South Central Indiana will host the Regional Housing Summit: Unlocking Solutions, bringing together residents, developers, landlords, people with lived experience, businesses, government and community leaders to explore practical solutions to the housing crisis in South Central Indiana. The conference will take place Tuesday, April 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Monroe Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. in Bloomington. Register here.
The summit will convene for a day of collaboration focused on strengthening housing stability across the region. Participants will explore actionable strategies to increase the supply of accessible housing, respond to the needs of vulnerable populations, and advance community-driven approaches to housing challenges. “The housing crisis in our region affects individuals, families, employers, and the overall health of our communities,” said Mary Morgan, Executive Director of Heading Home of South Central Indiana. “This summit is about bringing people together across sectors to share ideas, learn from each other, and build practical solutions that expand housing opportunities and strengthen stability for everyone in South Central Indiana.” The City of Bloomington announced that Mayor Kerry Thomson will deliver the 2026 State of the City Address on Tuesday, March 31, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater (114 E Kirkwood Avenue). The event is free and open to the public, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation beginning at 6 p.m. A reception will follow, offering residents the opportunity to engage with city leadership, neighbors, and community partners.
The State of the City is an annual address that provides an update on Bloomington’s progress, priorities, and vision for the future. The formal presentation will conclude with a special performance by Windfall Dancers. Local harpist Emily Fife will provide music as guests arrive and during the post-program reception. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast live and available for later viewing on Community Access Television Services (CATS), Bloomington’s local government and public access channel. CATS provides live and recorded coverage of city government meetings, community programming, and public affairs content. Viewers can watch on local cable or stream online at catstv.net. The City of Bloomington is accepting applications for the 2026 Solar, Energy Efficiency, & Lighting (SEEL) Grant Program. This program provides technical assistance and up to $25,000 in grant funding for local small businesses and nonprofits to improve building efficiency, install solar, or install battery storage. The SEEL Grant Program is designed to benefit local organizations by increasing the accessibility of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technology, and by reducing operating costs through energy savings.
Eligible participants include nonprofit organizations, schools, early childhood centers, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, multifamily residential complexes, and small businesses with fewer than 500 full-time employees that own a facility within city limits. Organizations renting their facilities are eligible to participate with a documented agreement from the property owner. Qualifying projects include solar panel installations, battery storage systems, LED lighting upgrades, energy efficient HVAC system upgrades, HVAC heat pumps, weatherization, cool roofs, windows, doors, and more. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funding has been allocated. Griffy Lake Boathouse Announces 2026 Hours and Updated Prices for Rentals and Launch Permits3/10/2026 The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department has announced updated hours of operation and pricing for the Griffy Lake Boathouse, 3400 North Headley Road, for the 2026 season. Adjustments reflect rising operational costs, more convenient seasonal access, and continued investment in safe, high-quality recreation at one of Bloomington’s most popular outdoor destinations.
2026 Boathouse Hours
Watercraft Rental Prices
David Martin Design is proud to share a new case study featuring one of our longest-standing local partnerships. In 2017, Andrew Felt of Bloomington Window Tint came to us with a placeholder website and a phone that had gone quiet. We built him a real WordPress presence - and eight years later, we're still working together. Over that time, the work has grown alongside the business: new service pages, LLumar product integrations, Google Business Profile management, review monitoring, Google Analytics, ongoing WordPress maintenance, and now a website redesign in progress. It's a story about what consistent, long-term digital support actually looks like for a local small business owner who takes his craft seriously. Read the full case study: https://davidmartindesign.com/case-studies/bloomington-window-tint-eight-years/ David Martin Design has served Bloomington businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations since 2004. We specialize in WordPress web design, managed hosting, and digital marketing - with a focus on long-term partnerships over one-time projects.  The City of Bloomington invites the community to attend a public meeting and share feedback on the latest proposed design for the Indiana Avenue Safety Improvements Project.
The meeting, which is the fourth round of public outreach for the project, will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, in the City Council Chambers at Bloomington City Hall, 401 North Morton Street. Staff will present a further revised design informed by community and stakeholder input gathered through previous public meetings, surveys, and conversations. Attendees will have the opportunity to review updated concepts and provide feedback that will influence the final design. The Indiana Avenue Safety Improvements Project focuses on the area between Smith Avenue and 10th Street. This corridor is an essential connector for all residents, bridging downtown and the Indiana University campus. The City’s Safe Streets for All Action Plan identifies Indiana Avenue as a “Highest Priority” corridor based on recent fatal and severe injury crashes, as well as public feedback. $320,000 Invested in Organizations Strengthening Financial Stability, Health, and Youth Opportunity Across the RegionUnited Way of South Central Indiana (UWSCI) has awarded $70,000 in 2026 Opportunity Grants to nonprofit organizations serving Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Orange, and Owen counties. The selected organizations will receive grants up to $10,000 to advance long-term stability and opportunity for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and individuals.
This Opportunity Grant funding was made possible by the success of UWSCI’s fall fundraising efforts, allowing more resources to be directed to programs that support children, families, and individuals working toward greater stability and opportunity across South Central Indiana. Earlier this year, UWSCI also awarded $250,000 in Impact Grants to support larger-scale initiatives. Together, these investments total $320,000 dedicated to strengthening ALICE families and expanding opportunity across South Central Indiana in 2026.  The City of Bloomington has announced the launch of its 2026 Community Survey, continuing a practice in place since 2017 of engaging an independent research firm to assess resident perspectives on City services, priorities, and quality of life.
The survey, historically conducted on a biennial cycle, was shifted from 2025 to 2026 to avoid overlapping with several major engagement efforts, including large-scale planning and departmental surveys conducted last year. The City determined that spacing these efforts would improve clarity and participation. |
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