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On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the City of Bloomington City Council voted unanimously to approve the $151 million 2025 Civil City Budget. The budget includes one amendment to eliminate a $250,000 allocation from the Parking Meter Fund to ensure compliance with allowable uses specified by ordinance.
“...I want to thank [the City’s Controller, Jessica McClellan] for all the hard work on this budget and I want to thank Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp and Mayor Kerry Thomson in listening to Council when we made our priorities known in the summer and, in particular, during and after the budget hearings in August,” said Councilmember Isabel Piedmont-Smith during the Oct. 9 Common Council Special Session regarding the outcome-based budgeting approach. “I think there was good, much better listening on both sides than in the past, and I am pleased with the budget we have before us and I'll be pleased to support it.” The 2025 budget prioritizes the administration’s one-year goals, focusing on Human Resources policies and practices, including salary compensation and job classification, transparency and engagement initiatives, long-term budgeting and financial strategies, major project execution, and modernizing internal processes. Notably, $6 million has been allocated to implement the findings of a 2023 salary study, ensuring competitive compensation and job classification improvements across the city’s workforce.
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The City of Bloomington has been awarded funding through the Indiana Office of Energy Development’s Empowering Energy Partnerships in Indiana Communities (EPIC) grant. The grant will support a comprehensive upgrade of the historic Buskirk Chumley Theater, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, sustainability, and climate resiliency.
The project will involve significant improvements to the theater’s mechanical systems, along with the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels and a battery energy storage system. The upgrades will transform the theater into a model of energy efficiency, reducing its operating costs and carbon footprint. The Buskirk Chumley Theater, a key cultural and community hub, has long faced challenges due to outdated infrastructure. The EPIC grant will address these issues by reducing energy costs by an estimated $6,000 annually and cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 25.6 tons per year. The project aligns with Bloomington’s Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2018 levels, with a long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. “Theaters worldwide, especially historic ones like the Buskirk-Chumley, which has been a Bloomington landmark since 1922, aren’t typically known for their energy efficiency,” said Steve Versaw, Executive Director of Buskirk-Chumley Theater. “That's why it's so exciting to contribute to transforming this venue into a sustainable space that future generations can enjoy for the next hundred years.”  After nearly 30 years of helping lead WonderLab from its small outreach beginnings to the multi-faceted educational institution it is today, WonderLab’s Executive Director, Karen Jepson-Innes, has let the Board of Directors know of her plans to retire in the spring of 2025.
This planned transition from founding to new leadership is the natural next step for WonderLab, and is a core component of the museum’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan. The Board of Directors is taking the transition and search process seriously to ensure the good work of WonderLab will continue for many years to come. A search committee made up of WonderLab staff and Board members is partnering with the Indianapolis-based agency Charitable Advisors who recently supported searches for Stone Belt and United Way in Bloomington and has done over 100 nonprofit Executive Director/CEO searches. The process is in good hands. The search opened this week with the goal of having the new Executive Director on board in March of 2025. As an advocate for WonderLab we thank you in advance for supporting the museum during this important and exciting leadership transition. You can find more information about the position at Charitable Advisors. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact Bryan Orander at [email protected] with questions The Waldron Arts Center is excited to present three new exhibitions in the galleries. In the Miller Gallery, Joseph Ovalle presents Devils of Dispatch, A Ballot of Postal Conflicts, narrating the political and commercial titans locked in frozen battle. Through his sculptures, he hopes to convey the reflections of systems, cycles, and architectures of oppression, suppression, and repression within the United States. His work hosts the environment of “creatures” and “devils” that inhabit a world they occupy and colonize.
In the Educational Gallery, Caleb Poer presents his show, Inflection. A show that delves into the relationship between art and self-perception. Poer’s work illustrates a dialogue centered on self-reflection, illumination, love, and personal experience. Every piece he creates is grounded in his evolution of eras throughout his life and emotions. His work showcases a series of painted mirrors, inviting viewers to contemplate their reflections and inner worlds through the lens of art. Unveiling in the Treasury Gallery is The State of Democracy, a group show curated by Nicole Jacquard. Inspired by the “I Voted” sticker, the exhibition seeks to bring together metalsmiths to comment on the current state of democracy. In Jacquard’s pieces, she examines themes of the souvenir, ornamentation, memory, longing, and nostalgia associated with the collection of personal objects. In each of their works, they strive to showcase people from various backgrounds, nationalities, and countries as Democracy continues to be tested as an ideal.  The Better Business Bureau® Serving Central Indiana recently announced its 2024 class of Torch Awards for Ethics recipients. BBB Accredited Business, Hudson Plumbing, was named as this year’s winner for the Impact in the Community category. Founded in 1992, Hudson Plumbing has been a cornerstone of the Martinsville and Bedford communities, providing full-service plumbing solutions ranging from water heater installations to bathroom remodeling projects. With a focus on community engagement, the company has earned a reputation for giving back, exemplified through their signature “Here With Heart” initiative. This program illustrates their enduring commitment to supporting the communities that have supported them for over three decades. The City of Bloomington has announced the opening of its 2024 Local-Motion Grant Program, designed to promote pedestrian and bicycle mobility throughout the city. The grant program offers support to community projects that aim to enhance walking and bicycling infrastructure and culture in Bloomington.
The Local-Motion Grant Program encourages initiatives that not only improve the city's infrastructure but also foster community engagement and education around sustainable transportation. The program is run in partnership with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission and is a key part of the city’s broader efforts to create a safer, more vibrant walking and biking culture. Program Guidelines Eligible organizations may submit one project application per annual cycle, with a maximum grant award of $2,400 per project. Applications are welcomed from non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, and local businesses that propose creative and impactful projects supporting active transportation. For complete criteria, click here. Apply Now The application window is now open for 2024, with a deadline of November 7, 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the program guidelines and submit their proposals before the deadline. For further details or questions about the application process, contact Hank Duncan, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, at [email protected].  The City of Bloomington, in partnership with the Bloomington Arts Commission, has selected local artist Jon Racek’s proposal of Undulate as the public art installation for Hopewell Commons, funded by the City’s 1% for the Arts program.
Racek was selected from four finalists invited by the city to submit full proposals for the project. The process began in March 2024, when the city issued a Request for Artist Qualifications, seeking submissions for a signature artwork to enhance the new Hopewell Commons area. A recommendation committee comprising members of the Bloomington Arts Commission, City of Bloomington staff, and community stakeholders reviewed the proposals, considering artistic quality, alignment with the welcoming and communal nature of Hopewell Commons, and feasibility of installation. Public feedback was also a factor in the decision. The installation of Undulate is tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2025. The project has a budget of $100,000, funded through the City of Bloomington’s 1% for the Arts Ordinance, which designates at least one percent of the city's contribution to capital projects for public art. The City of Bloomington will host a public project update on the Hopewell neighborhood on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St. The event will cover the development timeline, park features, and common spaces of the Hopewell project. The City of Bloomington is seeking residents to fill vacancies on multiple boards and commissions. These positions provide community members with the opportunity to contribute directly to the city’s policy-making processes and initiatives.
Board of Zoning Appeals — The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hears and makes the final decision on requests for variances from both the development and the use standards in the Unified Development Ordinance. Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor CDBG Funding Citizens Advisory Committee — This is the public body that reviews and recommends Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding for a variety of community projects. Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Redevelopment Commission Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs — Works to identify and research the issues which impact the Hispanic and Latino populations in Bloomington, especially in the areas of health, education, public safety, and cultural competency. Seat(s) available: • Appointed by: Mayor, (2) Common Council (2) Commission on Sustainability — Promotes economic development, environmental health, and social equity in our community for present and future generations. Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor Indiana Members Credit Union (IMCU) is pleased to announce it is now offering an exclusive IU Health Foundation debit card. The partnership allows members who sign up for an IU Health Foundation debit card to support IU Health initiatives to make Indiana healthier. Every time the card is used as a signature based transaction, IU Health Foundation benefits. The more cards that are in use, the larger the contribution. The card is available for issue to members at IMCU’s 31 Indiana locations. The IU Health Foundation debit card is free to members with a free checking account and can be issued immediately via IMCU’s instant issue program, which allows members to receive their debit card on the spot. For more information about the IMCU IU Health Foundation debit card, please visit IMCU online at, www.imcu.com, or visit an IMCU branch for details.  *Pictured is the Indiana Members Credit Union IU Health Foundation debit card. The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) recognized the campus for helping to shape the future of entrepreneurship education Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington won the Entrepreneurial College of the Year Award from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE). The award was announced at the annual conference on Monday, October 14. Participation in NACCE initiatives and measurable success of campus programs made the college a standout contender for the national award.
“Ivy Tech Bloomington’s dedication to fostering innovation and empowering students to pursue entrepreneurial ventures has not only impacted the campus but also has made a significant difference in the community,” Lydia Perez, project coordinator for NACCE, said. “We believe this work is setting a standard for others to follow and we’re excited to see how campus efforts continue to grow.” Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Cook Center for Entrepreneurship partner with the The Mill, Duke Energy, the Indiana Small Business Development Center, the advisory board, and others to bring programming to students and the community. Recent programs include entrepreneurial student pop-up shops and pitch competitions. |
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