 Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is pleased to announce that Julie Halbig will assume responsibility for its quality of place programming in the Indiana Uplands. Julie Halbig began her role on August 26 as Vice President for Economic and Community Development.
ROI’s quality of place programs span across initiatives, including housing, transportation, infrastructure, digital inclusion, and placed-based amenities. Working alongside local governments and economic development organizations (LEDOs), as well as with nonprofit, community, and other regional stakeholders, Halbig will focus on community and economic development priorities that elevate the assets of the Indiana Uplands, making it an attractive region to live, work, play, and invest. “Julie has over 20 years of experience in community development, housing, governmental affairs, legislative policy, and regulatory compliance,” said President and CEO Tina Peterson. “She is well-positioned to help guide the region’s efforts across the continuum of place-based priorities we all value. She has experience that will prove invaluable as ROI continues to focus on a range of strategies and supports the breadth of opportunities afforded by Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI). A native of Evansville, Julie brings with her a familiarity and commitment to our part of the state. We are pleased to welcome Julie back to Indiana and the Uplands region.”
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Officials from the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, and the Bloomington City Council have jointly signed a letter of support for the establishment of a new Economic Development District (EDD) in South Central Indiana. The proposed EDD would include Brown, Monroe, and Owen Counties—regions known for their shared economic strengths and collaborative efforts.
The letter, addressed to the United States Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), underscores the potential benefits of formalizing regional cooperation in economic development. The signatories highlighted the area's robust life sciences, higher education, technology, and defense sectors, as well as its historical significance in the limestone industry, which has shaped the region for over two centuries. “Our counties share not only a labor shed but also a rich history, regional beauty, and the economic benefits brought by Indiana University,” Mayor Kerry Thomson stated in her letter. “Bloomington has already seen significant advantages from the EDA’s support of the Trades District Technology Center, or The Forge, which received a $3.5 million CARES Act Grant. This support has catalyzed the growth of our tech ecosystem and strengthened regional partnerships.” The City of Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson has appointed Katherine Zaiger as City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) Director, effective immediately.
Zaiger, who has served as Interim Director since May 6 following John Langley’s retirement, has been with CBU since 2021. She initially joined as the MS4 Coordinator before transitioning to the role of Assistant Director of Environmental Programs in 2022 where she oversaw environmental compliance for the Monroe Water Treatment Plant, CBU Service Center, and both Blucher Poole and Dillman Wastewater Treatment Plants. Her role encompassed the City’s MS4, Pretreatment, Hazardous Materials, and Water Quality Programs. “Kat has brought a solutions-oriented and customer-focused approach to her role, which has greatly benefited both CBU and the City as a whole,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “With Kat’s skills and deep knowledge of the department, we are confident that she will continue to lead CBU forward with excellence. ” Katherine Zaiger holds a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Indiana University. She is also a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) and a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). In addition to her experience at CBU, Zaiger has five years of experience in restoration ecology. For more information, please contact the Office of the Mayor at 812-349-3406 or visit the City of Bloomington’s website at www.bloomington.in.gov.
WFIU Public Radio and the Department of Jazz Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music are partnering to co-host Swing in September, a free outdoor concert series featuring a variety of musical acts from swing bands to jazz vocalists and more.
The concerts will be held every Friday in September at 6:30 p.m. in the Northwest Quad on the Indiana University campus. The Northwest Quad is located on the east side of Luddy Hall between 11th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in Bloomington. Free parking is available after 6 p.m. in the nearby Fee Lane or Forrest Avenue parking garages. In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved indoors to Recital Hall. The first concert of the Swing in September series on September 6 will feature the Bloomington North and South High School Jazz All-Stars as the opening act for the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective. The Bloomington North and South High School Jazz All-Stars will perform at 6 p.m. with the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective following at 6:30 p.m. The Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters - Bloomington/Monroe County, is observing Women’s Equality Day by sharing essential voting information to encourage women’s participation in upcoming elections.
Women’s Equality Day honors the suffragettes and advocates who fought for the U.S. government to recognize women’s right to vote. Congress designated Women’s Equality Day in 1973, and it has been celebrated ever since. Each year, the holiday is observed on August 26. This date was chosen because, on August 26, 1920, Congress adopted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, recognizing women’s right to vote, and making it illegal to discriminate or deny the right to vote on the basis of sex. The 19th Amendment was the culmination of a civil rights movement by women that began formally in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York. IEDC has partnered with Global Cyber Alliance to provide several basic cybersecurity trainings for small business owners at no cost! The upcoming sessions are 8/29 (11am-1pm EST), 9/11 (11am-1pm EST), and 9/24 (9am-11am EST). Register at https://iedc.in.gov/ssbci/ssbci-technical-assistance-providers/global-cyber-alliance---cybersecurity-defense.  Read Limestone Post's latest article, "'Paint the State,' An anti-drug mural project started by a local student," by Hiromi Yoshida. Bloomington high school student Hazel Hammerstein founded the nonprofit Indiana Prevention Project to spread the message about the dangers of drug use. She and numerous supporters are running the Paint the State mural contest. Registration ends on August 30. Read about Hazel’s project and the contest rules and timeline in this article by Hiromi Yoshida. Here is the link: ‘Paint the State’ Anti-drug Mural Contest Started by Local Student - Limestone Post Magazine in Bloomington, Indiana.
Please join us as we celebrate and support DSI ’s ongoing work with Life Designs to provide services and supports to people with barriers by taking part in Golf for Independence. With your help, we can continue to provide them with the support they need to attain self-direction, inclusion, personal fulfillment, and productivity in all life areas.
For more than 49 years, DSI together with Life Designs has served the Columbus and Bloomington community, all of Monroe and Bartholomew County, and 60+ other counties across the state of Indiana. We do so by providing comprehensive, enduring, and diverse services to our clients with mental , physical , and/or emotional disabilities. The financial support we received from our community in 2023 helped us fund programs like: First Steps: Early intervention, therapy, family support , and networking for infants and toddlers who are at-risk or face developmental challenges. |
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