Indiana University’s Center for International Business (CIBER) Internship Funding Program incentivizes Indiana small-and-medium-sized businesses to internationalize their operations. Through the program, businesses can leverage interns to explore international expansion and simultaneously recruit for future full-time positions. The program is supported by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and its Employment Aid Readiness Network (EARN) work study program, as well as the Indiana Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce.

Click here for more details.

​The City of Bloomington Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission (BPSC) is seeking ideas that incorporate bicycle and pedestrian mobility into local events, programs, or other community activities.  Local-Motion grants of up to $2,000 per project will be awarded to proposals for initiatives that celebrate and promote Bloomington’s walk- and bike-friendly culture and infrastructure and advance active mobility accessibility.  The BPSC will make their announcement of the Local-Motion Grant award announcement near the beginning of November. 
 
Nonprofit organizations, locally owned businesses, and neighborhood associations are invited to email a short summary of the proposed idea, along with a timeline and budget, to the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Mallory Rickbeil and schedule a call or video conference to review the proposal by Friday, September 18.  After the meeting, grant seekers will be directed to complete an online application by 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 4 and prepare a short presentation of their proposal to present to the BPSC at a Project Pitch meeting Monday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m.  Prospective applicants may find guidelines for Local-Motion grants here.   
 
Proposals may encompass any number of activities that showcase biking and walking as safe, practical, economic, and sustainable forms of transportation.  Whether envisioning a live performance, tour, class, or other activity, Local-Motion grant seekers should propose programming to complement and activate the City’s bike infrastructure.  Emerging and established organizations and businesses may submit ideas for projects that take place within Bloomington city limits. 
 
Grant seekers should send a brief summary of their proposed idea to Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Mallory Rickbeil at [email protected] and schedule a call or videoconference to discuss the proposal at 812-349-3529. 

​Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative is poised to begin, to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse, and advancing racial, economic, and climate justice.  The Bloomington Common Council approved reallocating $2 million of 2019 reversion funds on August 12, as the first in a multi-phase strategy to help the community rebound and thrive in the face of concurrent crises.  Rather than restoring a pre-pandemic normal, Recover Forward seeks to lean into a future more thoroughly embodying our community’s goals for racial equity, a sustainable and inclusive economy, and climate action.  
 
“I appreciate City Council’s approval of the reallocation of these reserve funds toward programs that will work to repair the damage of this devastating year and help the community recover forward toward our shared vision of a stronger, more just, and more resilient Bloomington,” said Mayor John Hamilton.   
 
Projects in the first phase of Recover Forward are beginning in the next several weeks, including expanding access to jobs through training/education, housing, transportation options, renewable energy, social services, food, the arts, and the internet.  State approval of the funding allocation for these Recover Forward Phase One projects is expected during the week of August 31.  The passage of the 2021 budget, which was first presented to council last week, will mark the second phase of the Recover Forward plan, with a reallocation of $4M of City reserves among departments to protect basic services during this challenging time and advance projects to increase racial, economic, and climate justice.  
 
The following Phase One projects (listed with budgeted expenditure) are underway, with their current status outlined:  

Area 10 Agency on Aging’s annual Safe at Home Event, a half-day blitz to improve home safety for our older neighbors, is needing volunteers for Saturday, 9/26 from 9 to noon (or less, depending on project). Non-skilled individuals are needed for cleaning gutters, hauling off unwanted items to a dumpster, weed eating, general outdoor debris removal and tidying. We’re needing volunteers by 9/18 to match with project and determine which homes we can do based on volunteers.
 
Contact Chris Myers directly at [email protected] or 812-876-3383 ext. 503.

Susan Snyder, owner, Pottery House Studio
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"Before COVID-19, I was so busy teaching classes, hosting parties, running children’s camps and offering drop-ins that I no longer had time for my own work. Because ceramics is such a hands-on activity, and the community that had been created here is like an extended family, I didn’t want to put anyone at risk through in-person classes. As a result, in order to let people continue their ceramics projects, I have created pottery painting-to-go and clay kits, hosted outdoor classes and presented online workshops. Taking my workshops online has opened up a wider audience than I had ever imagined. I have also found time to create my own work again, as well as customized orders. Although my business has suffered financially, I feel that I have found a way to 'reinvent the wheel.'"

Read the full article here:​https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/growth-studio/pivoting-small-business-sales-strategies-coronavirus

HealthLINC, a community Health Information Exchange (HIE) organization, is granting just over $33,000 to the Bloomington Health Foundation to fund local and regional health-related initiatives. Created in 2007, HealthLINC was largely responsible for spearheading electronic health record adoption for healthcare systems and providers across Southern Indiana. In July of 2019, HealthLINC’s BOD of directors voted to dissolve the organization.
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Beginning Monday, August 24, curbside pickup by appointment hours at the Main Library and Ellettsville Branch will expand to seven days a week: Monday–Thursday: 11 AM–7 PM, Friday–Saturday: 11 AM–6 PM, Sunday: 12–4 PM.

Beginning Thursday, August 27, the Main Library will offer technology use by appointment. This includes the use of a computer, scanner, fax machine, copier, and printer. The Library will be open to technology use by appointment customers only during curbside pickup hours. More information can be found at mcpl.info/virtual.