Bloomington, Indiana
In Good Company A Publication of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation
A Skilled Workforce Businesses benefit from Indiana University graduate programs
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Bloomington forms networks and supports to help startups thrive
Changing Lives Through Science Bloomington a key player in life sciences
Heartland Security Defense sector powers Bloomington’s economic engine
http://comparebloomington.us
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In Good Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. Mayer Maloney, Jr. Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laurie Ragle Marketing Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shaylan Owen Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn S. Gardiner Design Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dennis Laffoon The Herald-Times 1900 S. Walnut Street Bloomington, IN 47402 Phone: (812) 331-4401 Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (.)' E% B`ej\i G`b\ › Jl`k\ ''( Bloomington, IN 47404 Phone: (812) 335-7346 Email: info@comparebloomington.us http://comparebloomington.us On the cover: The IU Art Museum. Photo by Darryl Smith
Skilled Workforce
6
A Home for Innovation
8
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
12
I-69, Potential for Opportunities
14
Heartland Security
18
Balanced Life
20
Made in Bloomington
24
Changing Lives Through Science
28
Educational Edge
32
Healthy Hometown
36
Powering the Future
38
Economic Development
41
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In Good Company
President’s Welcome
O
n behalf of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), I invite you to come to Bloomington in Monroe County, Ind., to live, learn and work in our thriving, world-class community in the heart of America. Nestled in the rolling hills of south-central Indiana, Bloomington is a livable, healthy, entrepreneurial community known for both big-city amenities and abundant charm. A superb location for starting, growing and locating businesses, careers and families, Bloomington and Monroe County are routinely ranked among the best communities for living and working. In 2014, Bloomington was named Community of the Year by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce. One visit and you will understand why. Founded upon the strength of the limestone industry and anchored by Indiana University, Bloomington is home to a diverse business community that excels in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, technology, manufacturing and the arts. The economy of Bloomington and Monroe County is known nationally for its strength in medical devices and for creative, start-up ventures that utilize the latest technology and the best talent. Bloomington was recently recognized as an emerging epicenter of high-tech industry with a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem. Bloomington offers excellent health care. In addition to two community hospitals, one affiliated with a statewide academic health system, there is excellent access to both primary and specialty medical care offered through dozens of physician offices located in convenient locations across the community. Indiana University, a world-renowned research university nestled in downtown Bloomington, is the region’s largest employer and best-known asset. IU’s expertise in life sciences, business, informatics and the arts, combined with Midwestern ingenuity and work ethic, has created a community of discovery and innovation both on and off the campus. The
campus, considered one of the most beautiful in the United States, has over 42,000 students, offers more than 1,100 musical performances each year, including Broadway productions and operas, and over 300 Big Ten sporting events, not to mention numerous museums, libraries, and a vibrant intellectual culture. We are also home to Ivy Tech Community CollegeBloomington, a 6,500-student campus and one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the country. Ivy Tech manages the nationally known Indiana Center for the Life Sciences, and is a trusted provider of training and professional development for Indiana employers. In 2016, Ivy Tech will open an 85,000-square-foot expansion to its academic facilities. Elementary, middle and high school choices will also impress and they include two public school systems, as well as charter, private and parochial options. Expansion magazine called Bloomington “one of the best public school values,” and we have resources and staff to ensure that children receive the education they deserve. From a National Blue Ribbon school to the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, early college programs and preengineering courses, families will find choices to meet their needs and goals. Further enhancing the broad spectrum of workforce development opportunities that exist in the area, Bloomington Code School was established to allow Monroe County residents the opportunity to learn and enhance coding and technology skills. In 2015, more opportunities will arise as a new Interstate 69 will connect and increase the accessibility of Bloomington to southwestern Indiana where the important military facility at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane operates, hosting a federal research laboratory where cutting-edge research and development in the defense industry takes place. Throughout Bloomington you’ll find business groups, training resources and business incentive programs that encourage continued education, quality job growth and enhanced productivity. You can also take advantage of young professional networking programs, a thriving arts community, and numerous trails and parks. If you are looking for a new place to work and live or a new home for a business, we invite you to tap into the American dream in Bloomington, Ind. It’s a small city with big opportunities!
Lynn Coyne BEDC President
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Workforce
Indiana University graduates cheer for other IU alumni during their ceremony. Photo by Chris Howell.
A Skilled Workforce
Businesses benefit from Indiana University graduate programs By Chris Doege
Prospering cities rely upon innovative and productive businesses, which rely upon educated and driven workers. Bloomington is uniquely positioned to provide such a pool of workers due to the proximity of Indiana University’s nationally acclaimed graduate programs. Indiana University is one of only 11 universities in the country whose public affairs (School of Public and Environmental Affairs, ranked No. 2), business (Kelley School of Business, ranked No. 21), and law (Maurer School of Law, ranked No. 29) schools all rank within the top 30 of U.S. News and World Reports’ “Best Graduate Schools” rankings. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Kelley School of Business, and Maurer School of Law are preparing their students to enter the workforce and contribute to the growth of the area’s public, private, and non-profit sectors. 6 http://comparebloomington.us
School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) Since graduation, the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs class of 2013 has found itself equally distributed between the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Mark Case, director of the Career Development Office at SPEA, attributes the variety of employment of SPEA graduates to their ability to work in a number of different capacities. “There is much more of an opportunity for someone who has identified their skill set and can identify the transferability of that skill set into one or more of those sectors to begin their career. Ultimately, I would expect to see a majority of SPEA graduates over the course of their 30-35-year career cross over sectors several times.” The transferability of skills gained at SPEA undoubtedly In Good Company
prepares graduates to enter the workforce and be effective employees. ”That’s the beauty of SPEA, that’s what sells SPEA ... the ability of (graduates) to solve problems in boxes other than just one.” Lynn Coyne, president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), said that the SPEA students the BEDC has hired “provide a great perspective. They are accomplished, hard working, are great researchers and have strong writing skills.” Whether it is the public, private, or non-profit sector, SPEA is providing Bloomington with educated and skilled graduates who are invariably aiding the city’s continued growth. Kelley School of Business While its exterior is undisputedly impressive, it’s the students within that make Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business an asset for business. Focusing primarily on the for-profit sector, the Kelley School utilizes its comprehensive curriculum both to prepare its students to enter the workforce and to start their own businesses. Wayne Johnson, owner of First Appraisal Group, said of his Kelley School education that, “The business school provided me with the tools to start my career in real estate and advance it to a business startup in 1988 with continued success presently.” The Kelley School boasts its attention to modern curricula that ensures its students are trained to meet the needs of today. For example, it established the Institute for Business Analytics in the fall of 2011 with the primary goal to “produce insightful research and train professionals who can excel in (business analytics).” The students involved in the institute will receive the education they need to analyze complicated data and apply that data to make informed and effective decisions. Darren Klein, director of marketing and communication at the Kelley School, in reference to the need for students with skills in business analytics said, “companies now have more data than we ever imagined was possible. Being able to use that data and make smarter business decisions and optimize those business decisions is key.” Another distinguishing factor of students within the Kelley School are their attitudes, often referred to as “soft skills” that are in high demand to businesses. Klein explained, “Kelley students know how to get things done. There is that humility of knowing ‘my goal isn’t to replace the CEO tomorrow, I’m not entitled, I know I have to work.’” The Kelley School of Business’s focus on not only teaching their students the skills and knowledge needed to be successful, but also on creating a culture of pragmatism and humility prepares their students to enter the workforce as entrepreneurs or as valuable assets to existing businesses.
Maurer School of Law The Maurer School of Law is preparing its students to not only be exceptional prosecutors, but also valuable members of the community. Austen Parrish, dean of Maurer School of Law, highlighted what current Maurer students are doing for the community. “Students are doing more than 25,000 pro bono hours each year.” The students are assisting families with family law, aiding non-profit organizations, and doing other public interest projects, such as elementary school literacy work. In addition to their pro bono work, Maurer students have been valuable to Bloomington’s emerging technology start-ups by providing them with the intellectual property and patent expertise that they need to establish a business. Additionally, Parrish said that firms should consider hiring Maurer graduates because, “the Midwest modesty of our students combined with their hard work mentality, grit, perseverance, and willingness to go the extra mile” set them apart from their peers. Andrew Bunger, senior assistant director in the Career Services Office, confirmed the dean’s evaluation of Maurer students. He said Maurer students have “no sense of entitlement” and focus on “ability without attitude.” The law school is continuously adapting to a changing business climate. Bunger said the school is always trying to “stay ahead of the game and find innovative ways for its students to enter the workforce.” Business benefits from SPEA, Kelley, and Maurer Public, private, and non-profit businesses in Bloomington are benefitting from hiring SPEA, Kelley, and Maurer graduates. Having three nationally acclaimed graduate schools is a unique advantage that few counties in the country are afforded. The entrepreneurial spirit driving business in Bloomington combined with the highly educated and trained students from Indiana University’s graduate schools makes for bountiful opportunities for business to grow.
Fall 2013 Enrollment by Level
Indiana UniversityBloomington had a 2013 total enrollment of
43,859 Undergraduate........................34,273 Graduate ....................................9,586
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Entrepreneurship
A Home for Innovation
Bloomington boasts tech-friendly partnerships and events By Kasey Husk
Artist’s rendering of Bloomington’s Certified Tech Park. Courtsey photo.
Already home to Indiana University with its steady supply of young, innovative graduates, Bloomington is working harder than ever to make the city even friendlier to budding tech business with its new Certified Technology Park. The 65-acre tech park, now primed for development, will help bring tech companies to the heart of downtown, encourage growth for the existing businesses, and foster the collaboration that is so vital to a growing technology industry. “More and more technology companies are growing and evolving here, and we’ve reached the point where the tech community needs a home,” said Katie Birge, director of the Bloomington Technology Partnership (BTP). “It is a unique opportunity for the tech companies to work 8 http://comparebloomington.us
and live and socialize and share ideas and start new companies.” The park is a continuation of many efforts by agencies throughout Bloomington to encourage the growth of its technology companies while Indiana University’s School of Informatics and Computing helps provide the brainpower behind the businesses. Bloomington’s technology park was first certified in 2005 and this certification allows the city to capture certain tax revenues, up to $5 million, for use Concentration toward redeveloping the area into of High-Tech a multiuse tech park where people Employment can live, work, shop and recreate. (Milken Institute)
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to Bloomington by UI 4U providing “visible $FSUJGJFE evidence that it is a 5FDI 1BSL UI 4U robust tech sector and Butler that there are many job Park opportunities,� she said. Showers “It’s extremely exciting Complex that the mayor has a strong vision of how this infill redevelopment is much more than new infrastructure and new buildings,� Alano-Martin said. “It really is creating another piece of our economy that can diversify and stabilize it in the future.�
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As of January 2015, the city had captured roughly $3.4 million in revenue, said Danise Alano-Martin, director of the city’s department of economic and sustainable development . The funds are expected to be used toward projects such as improving street alignment, upgrading sewer and stormwater infrastructure, and improving the streetscape “so when you enter the area you realize, ‘I’m in the innovation district,’� she said. Bringing technology businesses together in one dedicated area will create “synergy� by bringing creative people together, Alano-Martin said, whether they are talking about their ideas in an office or strolling in planned greenspaces during break time. The park is also expected to help draw talented people
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Entrepreneurship
Meanwhile, the Bloomington Technology Partnership, part of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), plays an important role in promoting the emerging tech scene by functioning as “connector,� Birge said. That can mean providing local businesses with a mentor to talk to about issues like making a business plan or buying insurance, or even making an introduction if they see an opportunity for a potential partnership between a startup and an existing company. The BTP also hosts a variety of networking events for local business people. Katie Birge
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“Bloomington is home to The Combine, an annual three-day conference for technologists and entrepreneurs,” Birge said. “The Combine draws nationally and internationally renowned speakers for workshops, pitches and a main speaker event. Regularly occurring Geek Dinners and monthly startup pitch nights provide opportunities to the tech crowd to meet and mingle.” In June 2014, the BTP opened the Bloomington Code School, which offers 11-week courses in computer coding that were tailored to the meet the needs of local tech companies, Birge said. In the first two sessions of the school, 85 people participated. Hanapin Marketing is just one of the companies that has benefited from the tech resources Bloomington has to offer. The company, which took advantage of partnerships available to entrepreneurs through the BTP and other organizations, started life in a business incubator. Since then, it has graduated from small startup to “well-established tech company known nationally for the work we do,” said Pat East, company president. East credits Bloomington’s “tech-centric” atmosphere for helping to make Hanapin a leader within the technology and marketing industries, as well as more than doubling both its revenue and employee numbers
in the last three years. “Not only do we have a great community of existing businesses, but there are hundreds of people working day and night right now to continue growing Bloomington’s status as a tech leader,” East said. “Being able to have a support group like that, and all they’ve done to help tech companies thrive, has been a huge deal.” The town’s proximity to IU’s School of Informatics and Computing was also a strong consideration when open-source middleware company WSO2 chose to launch its fourth office in Bloomington, adding to its locations in California, London and Sri Lanka, said Jonathan Marsh, vice president of strategy. The certified tech park will be just a stone’s throw from Indiana University, Alano-Martin noted. With a permanent downtown home for Bloomington’s tech scene now offering the collaborative space for businesses to flourish, partnerships throughout the city prepared to lend a hand, and sharp young minds emerging just a few blocks away at Indiana University, Bloomington is poised and ready for tech-sector companies both large and small. Sue Shelden contributed to this article.
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Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Bloomington forms networks and supports to help startups thrive By Kasey Husk Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, delivers the keynote address at The Combine, a technology conference at the Indiana Memorial Union. Wales discussed the meanings of failure and success for entrepreneurs. Photos by David Snodgress.
As farmers till and fertilize the soil, city and community leaders in Monroe County are carefully cultivating Bloomington’s own entrepreneurial “ecosystem” in hopes of helping new business bloom. “Bloomington and Monroe County are fertile ground for new business,” said Dana Palazzo, project manager for the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). “Our community provides entrepreneurs the resources they need to start a business.” Indeed, Bloomington is rife with resources for the aspiring entrepreneur, in large part provided by several local nonprofit agencies geared directly toward helping small business owners achieve their dreams. “Bloomington’s ecosystem has great bones,” said Danise Alano-Martin, City of Bloomington’s economic and sustainable development director. “We have a collaborative, welcoming community for new business. We have a citizenry that is very interested in local and independent business, and we have an educated workforce that can work for those businesses. Our quality of life, the available amenities and the availability of strong higher education institutions attracts creative people in the arts, humanities and in technology—and more—and this creates an environment of innovation that helps businesses.” And now the BEDC, City of Bloomington and Ivy Tech Community College’s Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship are teaming up to create an online 12 http://comparebloomington.us
portal to be called The Switchboard that will integrate all the services Bloomington’s business ecosystem has to offer. Funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, the portal will be “an online tool where entrepreneurs can make their own connections with peers, with potential mentors or investors, and with services providers as well,” AlanoMartin said. Among those services providers is the Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, which Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington launched in 2010. In addition to providing certificate and technical certificate programs in entrepreneurship to students, the 100 Best Small Places center also provides free counseling for Business and to people needing help starting or Careers in the country growing a new business, said Steve (Forbes Magazine, 2013) Bryant, executive director. In some cases, that help can come in the form of reviewing business plans, putting people in touch with others who have started similar businesses, or on occasion, “talking someone out of a really bad idea.” The most important role, however, is sometimes just acting as a sounding board for ideas and asking questions, he said. Meanwhile, the Bloomington branch of the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) provides small businesses with “one-on-one business consulting, strategic planning, market research, loan assistance [and]
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business acumen,� according to ISBDC business advisor Troy Phelps. The organization’s goal, Phelps said, is “to have a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth and sustainability of small businesses in Indiana, and to help Hoosier entrepreneurs start stronger, grow fast and worker smarter.� Other local organizations, such as SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses grow and prosper through education and mentoring programs, offer similar help to entrepreneurs. The city also boasts a number of networking events that cater to that group, including Verge Bloomington, Ignite Bloomington and the Startup Weekend Bloomington. But Bloomington offers more than just experienced mentors and know-how—the city has approved a master plan for a certified technology park downtown to create attractive locations for expanding new businesses. Less tangible goals like “enhancing Bloomington’s quality of life and quality of place� are also a big part of the city’s economic development efforts, Alano-Martin said.
Both governmental and independent agencies throughout Bloomington are working hard—and more closely than ever thanks to the new resource portal, The Switchboard—to make starting a new business as simple as possible by providing all the resources a budding entrepreneur could need, from funding and business plans to words of wisdom from those who have been there before.
Labor Force: (Hoosiers by the Numbers-May 2014)
57%
of the workforce is employed in white collar occupations
Bloomington MSA Economic Region 8 Monroe County
Labor Force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemp Rate
93,809 153,256 69,227
88,508 144,435 65,627
5,301 8,821 3,600
5.7% 5.8% 5.2%
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Transportation
I-69, Potential for Opportunities Construction of new highway cuts commutes and enriches business By Kasey Husk
The new I-69 will link Evansville to Indianapolis, linking Bloomington to a main north-south artery through the United States. Photo by Matthew Hatcher.
As Monroe County prepares for the expansion of Interstate 69, which will run the entire length of the United States from Canada to Mexico, new opportunities for growth are on the horizon. International trade, distribution logistics and defense technology are just a few industries that will be impacted in the Monroe County area as the highway connecting Indianapolis with Evansville nears completion. Plenty of new opportunities are expected to arrive along with the highway, and Bloomington will particularly benefit from having a faster and safer way to access Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division when the section of road between the two is completed by the end of 2015. The new corridor will be an advantage in particular for businesses that need to quickly, safely and efficiently ship their products to market or to receive the raw materials they need to operate, said Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC), and Jerry Neely, president and CEO of Rogers Management Inc. They believe I-69 could impact manufacturing and logistics organizations most, though those providing professional services would also benefit from quicker travel to clients. Locally, the highway will drastically reduce travel time for people in Bloomington to get to other parts of the state, especially the economic engine that is Crane, Conover said—cutting 15 to 20 minutes off the travel time to Crane could mean more businesses choose to locate in 14 http://comparebloomington.us
Bloomington. “Time is money for a lot of workers and ... for scientists and engineers and project planners and those types of folks working for defense contractors, it’s hard to generate billable hours when you are on the road,” Conover said. “Anybody who commutes should find that the traveling there is easier, so in that sense, there’s more time to get work done.” Indiana Indeed, Mike Kramme, operations Chamber of manager of Bloomington’s Technology Commerce Service Corporation, a company that Community works closely with Crane, believes that of the Year, if I-69 were in place even five years ago, 2014 “there would be a large tech park here in Bloomington and operations as well to support Crane.” Another consideration, Conover said, is that the highway makes it easier for people themselves to travel to and from work and thus more likely to choose to live in Bloomington. People want to live in the city, he said, because they want “access to the schools, the stores, the cultural activities, [and] just the general quality of life that comes with a city this size.” But when the only roads to major employers like Crane are slow, two-lane roads, the commute may be discouraging. In anticipation of all I-69 will bring, Bloomington has been assessing and preparing to meet the utilities In Good Company
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requirements of new companies as well. A capacity study for Bloomington’s water utility in 2007 factored in the possibility of needing an additional million gallons of water each day if a new large plant moved to the city, said Patrick Murphy, director of the City of Bloomington Utilities. That study led to the $42 million expansion of the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities. The utility now has the capacity to pump 30 million gallons of water each day, up from 24 million. Mike Rampley, senior vice president of marketing and business development for electric power wholesaler Hoosier Energy, said that its member cooperatives already provide power to most of the areas around I-69, and “if there is a growth in those areas, we’re prepared to invest in upgrades.� “We have an obligation to provide electric service to anybody that locates in the service area,� he said. “We hope that I-69 will bring new jobs and opportunities to what’s been an area of the state that hasn’t always had a lot of opportunities.� With the completion of I-69, Bloomington will hold a strategic location along a primary north-south artery in the United States—bringing ease, convenience and nationwide access to businesses’ front doors.
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Transportation
Funding the Highway
The sections of I-69 running from Evansville to Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division opened to the public in November 2012, said Liz Irwin, director of advocacy and public policy for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Those sections, as well as the one running from Crane to Bloomington, were funded traditionally through the state’s Major Moves funds, but Section 5, which runs from Bloomington to Martinsville, will be created using a relatively new-to-Indiana public-private partnership, called the P3 process.
Irwin described the P3 process as similar to someone taking out a mortgage on a home, rather than paying cash for it. The private I-69 Development Partners are responsible for financing the project by arranging private activity bonds, designing the road, building it and then handling maintenance of the road for the life of the bonds. “With declining revenues and declining gas taxes and more difficulty in getting federal funds, the states have been forced to be more inventive� to finance projects. Having a new interstate on this scale is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,� she said.
Liz Irwin
Transportation in Bloomington MSA
Major Roadways: I-69 (Coming 2015)
Airports:
Freight:
Monroe County Regional Airport Indianapolis International Airport (58 miles from Bloomington)
CSX- CSX Transportation Inc. INRD- Indiana Rail Road Co. ISRR- Indiana Southern Railroad
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Defense
Heartland Security
Federal laboratory and defense sector powers Bloomington’s economic engine By Kasey Husk
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Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division has produced more than 500 products that were patented in the last five years. It awards almost $250 million in contracts each year, and employs over 1,000 Monroe County residents. Crane has propelled the growth of the defense contractors throughout the state of Indiana, but especially in the southwestern region, said Don Schulte, executive director of the WestGate@Crane Technology Park. At least three dozen companies in the area contract with Crane—10 to 12 of them in Bloomington— and without the base, “I can’t say there wouldn’t be any, but it would be a very small percentage, in my opinion,� he said. A major goal of the newly formed Indiana Department of Defense Development (IODD) is to partner with schools like Indiana University and small businesses to find ways to commercialize products developed for defense applications at Crane, said Duane Embree, executive director for the IODD. Businesses will be able to use the technology developed for the military to come up with ways it can be used by the general public. For instance, nightvision technology created for the military could prove attractive to outdoorsmen, Schulte said.
“Bloomington has a good track record of producing startups and creating a good tech-based environment,� Embree said. “Particularly with the linkage of I-69 and the ability for that to really bring Crane and Bloomington closer ... we think that can serve as a good economic catalyst.� Mike Kramme, operations manager of Bloomington’s Technology Service Corporation, a company that moved to Bloomington 30 years ago to work with Crane, also notes that the presence of high-tech defense companies could prompt unrelated companies to locate in Monroe County purely because they will be aware that people with the high-tech skill sets they need are located in the area. Crane provides about 1,200 Monroe County residents with well-paying jobs each year (county residents receive about $162 million in salaries and benefits annually), but a glance at the list of defenserelated companies calling the area home reveals that its influence on the workforce runs far deeper. And with Crane and the IODD continuing to promote commercialization of technology created at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, the area is poised for continued growth in the future.
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Culture
Photo courtesy the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. 20 › http://comparebloomington.us
In Good Company
A Balanced Life Arts, culture and recreation in Bloomington By Lacy Nowling
Offering a variety of cultural and recreational options for everyone, from the theater buff to the nature lover to the sports fanatic, Bloomington is the perfect place to cultivate a work-life balance. From its various live theater options, concerts and art exhibits to its more than 2,300 acres of parks and 30 miles of trails, there are not enough hours in the day, or days in the week, to do it all. “[Bloomington is] not so big that you can’t be aware of most everything that is going on, and yet it is large enough to draw world-class concerts, art shows, exhibits, sporting events and other cultural opportunities,” said Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington. Bloomington is well known for its theater options, from community productions by the Bloomington Playwright’s Project and Cardinal Stage Company to Best City for the Indiana University Auditorium, which regularly Work-Life Balance (Forbes Magazine, Oct. 2014) brings in Broadway’s top touring shows. In addition to high-level education, Indiana University offers residents ample opportunity to take in performances of all kinds, whether it is an annual performance of the ballet “The Nutcracker” or the hit musical “South Pacific.” At IU’s Jacobs School of Music—which, McAfee notes, is ranked as one of the best music schools in the nation—residents can take in instrumental performances or even operas presented by the IU Opera & Ballet Theater. “The IU Theatre is the venue in Bloomington where audiences can see the ... professionals of tomorrow making the entertaining, challenging productions of today,” said Drew Bratton, managing director of IU’s department of theater, drama and contemporary dance.
No. 1
Employment by Industry
Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
In Good Company _kkg1&&ZfdgXi\Ycffd`e^kfe%lj 21
Culture
The city is often recognized as a platform for aspiring performers, musicians and actors to practice their craft and gain public exposure, as well as a showcase for established artists. Bloomington’s Buskirk-Chumley Theater, for one, presents everything from children’s dance groups to nationally recognized musical groups. The Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, held every September, draws thousands to Bloomington to take in an eclectic selection of live music at venues across town. “It is one of the most respected music festivals in the country; it’s right up there with some very large culture destinations like Portland and Chicago,” McAfee said. But even smaller events like the city’s weekly Farmers’ Market offer one of the an opportunity for thousands of visitors who flock to the Small Towns for downtown market each Food in America week to check out new (USA Today and Rand McNally) artists or to buy a piece of artwork alongside their locally grown fruits and vegetables. “There is a sense of community that you get when you share time with people in that kind of environment,” said Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation Director Mick Renneisen. Sports enthusiasts in Bloomington can take in high-level college sports almost year-round. While perhaps most famous for its men’s basketball (the Hoosiers are one of the most storied teams in NCAA history), other Indiana University programs, including swimming and diving and track and field, have proved dominant in recent years, McAfee said. The IU baseball team advanced to the College World Series in 2013. The atmosphere when IU’s teams are doing well, McAfee said, is “ infectious.” For those who crave time outdoors, Monroe County has plenty to offer. With three lakes (including the state’s largest inland body of water, Monroe Lake), locals can spend summers boating, canoeing, swimming and fishing. Monroe Lake is an especially big draw, McAfee said, because “so much of it is what I would call ‘wild.’ [It’s] undeveloped, and in its natural state, and we love that.” For cyclists and hikers, opportunities abound in the Hoosier National Forest and on Monroe County’s roughly 355 miles—and growing—of trails, McAfee said. Among those is the B-Line, a trail built over an old railway corridor as a direct response to the
Best
[Top to bottom] The Veils of Vincennes perform during the 4th Street Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown Bloomington. Photo by Matthew Hatcher; The B-Line Trail attracts bikers, runners and walkers. Photo by David Snodgress; Bloomington locals dance to the music at the annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. Photo by David Snodgress; Indiana University basketball players Will Sheehey and Yogi Ferrell celebrate a dunk at Assembly Hall. Photo by Chris Howell. 22 http://comparebloomington.us
In Good Company
community’s request for a network of trails. What was previously a physical divider of the city’s east and west sides now unifies the area and gives people a place to exercise, as well as easy routes to and from downtown. The trail is also an economic driver for on the list of Top 10 business, Renneisen said. More and more companies Places to Live from Men’s Journal Magazine. The and housing developments magazine looked at 50 want to be on or near the variables to find the trail, and several of the “healthiest, sexiest, most current businesses are fun and most affordable accommodating patrons by towns in the land.� adding entranceways right (May 2013) off the path. “People want to live near the trail. It’s an amenity now, not an eye sore,� Renneisen said, and the B-Line Trail is just one element of what earned Bloomington recognition as a “Bicycle Friendly Community.� Whether you’re a lover of Big Ten sports, hiking, ballet, opera, concerts—or all of them— Bloomington offers activities and venues for everyone to balance hard work with great fun.
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Kasey Husk contributed to this article.
Wages and Income 2012 Bloomington MSA Per Capita Personal Income ...................................... $38,136 Source: Hoosiers by the Numbers
Monroe County Households (Stats Indiana 2010)
Total Households .................76,837 Family Households ............. 42,583 Married without Children ..20,935 Single Parents .........................5,511 Other ......................................... 4,031 Non-Family Households .... 34,254
12,106
Living Alone .........................23,500
of Monroe County Households are Married with Children
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Manufacturing
A molding operator works in a U-Cell station where three machines are placed in a U shape for easier access at TASUS Corporation in Bloomington. The corporation celebrated its 25th year of operation in October 2014. Photo by Chris Howell.
Made in Bloomington Manufacturing far and wide finds Hoosier home By Lacy Nowling
From companies that produce aviation devices to software platforms and automotive supplies, domestic and international businesses of all kinds reap the benefits of establishing their headquarters in Bloomington. The city of 80,000 is home to both startup companies—the largest and best known of them, perhaps, being medical device manufacturer Cook Group—and those that have chosen to move an existing business to the city. Businesses thrive in Bloomington due to the city’s numerous business resources, such as the Indiana Small Business Development Center. In addition, Bloomington’s location in the Midwest, business-friendly government, and proximity to higher education
24 http://comparebloomington.us
make it an attractive option for businesses looking to expand and reach new customers. Cook Group, Inc., founded and headquartered in Bloomington since 1963, is now an industry-leading medical device company with about 4,000 people working at its facilities in Monroe County. Jobs ranging from hourly operators and technicians to people with doctorates or other Best Places professional degrees make Cook for Business one of the largest employers in (Forbes Magazine) the city. “We have a long history of close cooperation with Bloomington and Monroe County government officials, as well as local, state and national leaders,
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In Good Company
in developing our growing business here,” said Dan Peterson, vice president of industry and government affairs at Cook Group. “That sense of community plays a role in every decision we make to expand or locate new business enterprises in and around Bloomington. We’re proud to call Bloomington home, and look forward to many more decades as a leading employer in the area.” Flexible packaging producer PrintPack came to Bloomington around 2000 after acquiring another business located in the city, said plant manager Lonnie McKinley. But it chose to stay in the area, shutting down its original plant and one in Greensburg to build one large facility in Bloomington in 2010, he said, because of “economic incentives to grow this business here.” The company, which produces bread bags for the baking industry at its Bloomington location, also benefits from the company’s proximity to Ivy Tech Community College. “Ivy Tech offers a lot of training in robotics ... that we use in our plant,” McKinley said. MSP Aviation, a manufacturer of aerospace and military aircraft parts since the 1940s, relocated the company to Bloomington in 2002. Most of the parts MSP Aviation makes are used in the cockpits A molding operator with TASUS Corporation inspects two power steering reservoirs as they come out of assembly. Photo by Chris Howell.
Top 20 Employers in Monroe County Indiana University - Bloomington
Education
7,000
Cook Group, Inc.
Medical Appliances & Equipment
3,300
Indiana University Health-Bloomington
Medical Services
2,246
Monroe County Community School Corporation
Education
1,882
Baxter Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
1,100
City of Bloomington
Government
690
Monroe County
Government
532
Cook Pharmica
Pharmaceuticals
422
Premier Healthcare
Medical Services
393
Richland Bean Blossom Schools
Education
384
LJM Enterprises
Health & Development
384
ModusLink PTS
Electronic Remanufacturing
380
Author Solutions
Self Publishing
358
General Electric Appliances
Refrigerators
355
Stone Belt ARC
Assembly
333
Walmart
Retail
316
Tree of Life Midwest
Natural & Gourmet Food
304
Ivy Tech Community College
Education
300
Centerstone
Health Care
290
Weddle Bros. Construction
Construction
287
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Manufacturing
MSP Aviation, based in Bloomington, makes components used in the cockpit of Boeing airplanes. Photo by David Snodgress.
of planes and in flight-control centers. Its customers include Boeing Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Triumph Aerospace and Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, as well as other defense and commercial aviation entities. Company President John Goode, Jr. credits MSP Aviation’s more than 50 percent growth in the past three years to not only organic growth and acquisitions, but also the “crossroads of America” location and the business support and opportunities through the city. “There are tremendous resources available to Bloomington businesses, such as the BEDC, the Chamber of Commerce, IU, Ivy Tech and many others,” Goode said. With its steady growth in customers, MSP Aviation has doubled its facilities and tripled its workforce since relocating to Bloomington. While Bloomington is a nationally recognized home for domestic businesses, many international companies have decided see what Bloomington can offer them. TASUS, an automotive supplier of plastic components like nameplates and graphic labels that was founded in Japan in 1950, came to Bloomington in the late 1980s. Its leadership also credits the city’s location for the convenient access it allows their
26 http://comparebloomington.us
customers, which include Toyota, Fiat and Chrysler. “Locating in Bloomington and south-central Indiana provides easy access for transport of goods to the automotive manufacturing clusters up north and the growing sector down south,” said Jay Brown, director of branding, media and marketing for TASUS. Brown acknowledges resources from the BEDC as well as general “Hoosier hospitality” as some of the key components that have kept the company, now celebrating its 25th year in Bloomington, growing. Brown said the BEDC has kept it informed as needs and challenges arise, and that the organization often serves as an extension of their business development team. “Something that TASUS, Hoosiers and the Bloomington community can take pride in is being a supplier to the Toyota and the Camry for 25 years,” Brown said. “We are growing with them and increasing the ‘Hoosier-made’ content in vehicles that were once known as ‘foreign.’” As Bloomington offers a convenient Midwest location and numerous resources for startups and longtime companies alike, businesses worldwide have a great deal to gain from claiming a Hoosier Heartland home. Kasey Husk contributed to this article.
In Good Company
John Goode, company president, talks with a technician on the manufacturing floor at MSP Aviation. Photo by David Snodgress.
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Science
Photo courtesy Baxter International. In Good Company _kkg1&&ZfdgXi\Ycffd`e^kfe%lj › 28
Changing Lives Through Science Bloomington a key player in life sciences By Lacy Nowling
Cook Group, Inc., established its Bloomington headquarters in 1963. Photo by Matthew Hatcher.
With one of the world’s largest medical device companies, Cook Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomington, it should come as no surprise that the city is recognized as a key player in the fields of life sciences and medical device development and manufacturing. “Its connection to Indiana University, with its worldclass biological science and health care programs, made it a natural place for Bill and Gayle Cook to select when choosing where to locate their original business,” said Dan Peterson, vice president of industry and government affairs at Cook Group, Inc. In fact, a 2014 Battelle Memorial Institute report ranked Bloomington’s metropolitan statistical area “No. 1 in medical device and equipment employment” among cities its size. With an abundance of local resources aimed at research, business recruitment, and employee retention, and two higher-education institutions right in its backyard, Bloomington intends to retain that reputation. Among these resources is the Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership (BLSP), which works with area businesses to assist with marketing and branding, networking opportunities, and attracting potential employees. “The BLSP has been and is a foundation, convener and think-and-do tank for the region—from its origins
29 http://comparebloomington.us
of bringing together the many life sciences players to get to know one another; to championing cluster collaboration for those involved in R&D, operations and business functions; to identifying seeds of new possibilities and tending to them,” said Alisa Wright, chief executive officer of BioConvergence, a pharmaceutical research and development company located in the area. Another health care company, Baxter International, also calls Bloomington home. About 1,000 people work for the company, which “develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious disease, kidney disease, trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions,” according to its website. Baxter is one of many companies to take advantage of the Indiana Center for the Life Sciences (ICLS), which provides classroom space for teaching its employees new skills, including how to “gown up” to work in a sterile environment, said Antonella Thurmond, ICLS coordinator. The Indiana Center for the Life Sciences at Ivy Tech Community College was formed in cooperation with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), local life sciences companies and the county government, Thurmond said.
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Science
Local health care and life sciences professionals participate in the Life Sciences Career Fair at Ivy Tech Indiana Center for Life Sciences. Courtesy photo.
30 › http://comparebloomington.us
In Good Company
Alisa Wright
Tony Armstrong
The ICLS also helps provide those same businesses with the workforce of the future by housing Ivy Tech’s biotechnology program, from which students can transfer to Indiana University to complete a four-year degree in the field if they choose, she said. “Small research-based companies need access to a university,� said Nathan Gould, technical director at National Products Analytics Group, which specializes in nutritional chemistry and analytical testing. By the same token, those making discoveries inside the university also sometimes need help to turn their innovations into commercial products. Indiana
University Research and Technology Corporation (IURTC) is dedicated to helping IU faculty and staff “ take these ideas they are discovering through their research and make sure they are translated and have the ability to treat patients around the world,� said Tony Armstrong, president and CEO of the IURTC. Another organization, meanwhile, helps fund those types of startup companies. BioCrossroads was developed to generate more investment dollars for life sciences businesses and to be a “catalyst—one that could foster the development of a broad range of companies [that] support life sciences work inside and outside the state,� according to Lori LeRoy, vice president of communications. It manages an $8.25 million fund dedicated to helping life sciences-related startups. The future growth of the life sciences industry in Bloomington relies upon innovative solutions to meet workforce demand, such as technology transfer opportunities from IU researchers to local industry. Increasing communication between those stakeholders and working with the local school systems help connect these life sciences companies with the resources they need to grow. Kasey Husk contributed to this article.
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Education
Super Science Saturday at the Ivy Tech Indiana Center for the Life Sciences included a booth teaching children about homoestasis. Photo by Amelia Chong.
32 › http://comparebloomington.us
In Good Company
Educational Edge
School systems offer foundation for college and career By Kasey Husk
With a leading research institution like Indiana University in its backyard, it may not be surprising that Monroe County’s focus on quality education continues in its other learning institutions. The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) and Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation (RBBCSC), with 94 percent and 93 percent graduation rates respectively, are doing their part Smartest Towns to ensure Monroe in America County teens are (VentureBeat) ready to join the working world or advance their educations. Meanwhile, Bloomington’s other higher education option, Ivy Tech Community College, has been rapidly expanding both its facilities and its course offerings as it continues to work hand-in-hand with local employers to prepare students for today’s workforce. Ivy Tech Community College is in “constant conversation” with community leaders about the everchanging needs of the workforce, said Chancellor Jennie Vaughan. For example, “we didn’t have a respiratory care
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program until four or five years ago, but the hospital was talking to us saying, ‘We are in desperate need of respiratory therapists,’” she said. With health care a growing industry nationally, the college has recently expanded its nursing program into the Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing, both locally and statewide, making it a “cornerstone program for Ivy Tech” with competitive enrollment, Vaughn said. The college has also revamped its cyber security program with seven new course offerings, as those programs are “something everybody is asking for.” Enrollment is maxed out currently at about 6,500 students, Vaughan said, but when a 90,000-square-foot expansion to the campus’ Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building opens in spring 2016, she predicts enrollment could rise to perhaps 7,000. Ivy Tech students, Vaughan said, benefit from an affordable education, small class sizes and highly educated professors. Students can obtain an associate’s degree or certificate in a number of sought-after fields, such as radiotherapy or biotechnology; or transfer credits to four-year universities. More than 800 credits transfer directly to Indiana University, Vaughan said, and
[Top ] The Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building at Ivy Tech Bloomington. Courtesy photo. [Bottom, left] An Indiana University graduate celebrates earning his masters degree from the School of Education. Photo by Jeremy Hogan. [Bottom, right] Nursing school faculty celebrates with a photo during the Ivy Tech Community College graduation. Photo by Chris Howell. In Good Company _kkg1&&ZfdgXi\Ycffd`e^kfe%lj 33
Education
Computer science graduates meet with local tech entrepreneurs during the Bloomington Technology Partnership Career & Internship Fair at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center. Photo by Chris Howell.
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In Good Company
many classes use the exact same course materials as its IU counterpart but cost much less. Both of Monroe County’s school corporations, meanwhile, also play a strong role in preparing students for either the workforce or to attain their higher education goals. MCCSC, which has earned an A rating from the Indiana Department of Education for the last three years, offers students at its four high schools many opportunities to take dual credit or advanced placement exams—and those can turn into college credit for some Indiana University students before they even don their cap and gown. Last year, MCCSC students earned 1,900 credit hours The Decade’s from dual-credit courses and 1,100 Hottest Schools from advanced placement classes, a (Daily Beast, 2012) cost savings to students and parents of nearly a million dollars, Superintendent Judy DeMuth calculated. RBBCSC also offers 17 dual-credit courses with plans to add more in the future, according to information provided by Assistant Superintendent Jason Bletzinger. The school recently received a grant to help expand the number of students enrolled and succeeding in advanced placement math, science and English courses. It also boasts an alternative program, The Edge, designed to encourage
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Educational Attainment
91.8%
of Hoosiers are attaining high school diplomas
43.3%
of Hoosiers are attaining Bachelor’s degrees
7,218 Associates, Technical Certificates & Certificates Awarded Since 2002 – Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington Source: Hoosiers by the Numbers
students at risk of dropping out to continue their education. Likewise, students at the Hoosier Hills Career Center can take courses to prepare them for either college or a career. The career center is attached to Bloomington High School North but accepts students from other districts, including Richland Bean Blossom, where 11 percent of juniors and seniors choose to attend. Among the extensive offerings are courses in animal science, automotive service technology, construction, welding, nursing and fire and rescue courses. “It’s like the old vocational career center, but the courses and types of opportunities they offer for kids are more aligned with today’s work world,� DeMuth said. From classroom, campus, workshop or lab, Bloomington’s school systems prepare students to be skilled, innovative members of the working community.
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Health
IU Health Bloomington works to actively engage the community. Photo by Jeremy Hogan.
A Healthy Hometown
Hospital organization takes active role in community vitality By Teri deMatas
Healthy communities have the ability to coordinate access to health services and manage complex needs, as well as provide opportunities for preventive care and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. Working with many partners in the community, IU Health Bloomington has worked diligently to enhance the lives of local residents. The organization is a strong supporter of many initiatives that make Bloomington a vibrant and healthy place to live and do business. Following are just a few examples of that commitment:
36 http://comparebloomington.us
Kf _\cg Z_`c[i\e `e jflk_$Z\ekiXc @e[`XeX Xmf`[ the long-term health issues that come with being overweight, IU Health Bloomington introduced the G.O.A.L. program. G.O.A.L. stands for Get Onboard Active Living and allows clinicians to work with kids and their families to focus on how to eat healthy and move more. K_\ _fjg`kXc `j m\ip XZk`m\ `e 8:?@<M<# Xe initiative to make lasting change in the community’s culture by making the healthy choice the easy
In Good Company
choice. One program created through this collaboration is a Health Ministry Tool Kit educating parish leaders on how they can engage their membership in healthy habits. Gfj`k`m\ C`eb# X gif^iXd f] @L ?\Xck_ 9cffd`e^kfe# has been recognized nationally for providing its HIV prevention efforts, as well as direct services for those with HIV/AIDS. Teams of health care professionals seek to reduce the occurrence of new HIV infections, improve the overall health and wellbeing of individuals living with HIV, and of those at risk of contracting HIV. More than 200 clients are served annually. 8cjf b\p kf ^ff[ _\Xck_ `j Zfem\e`\ek XZZ\jj kf high-quality primary and specialty care. IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians, a regional physician provider network, offers more than 200 skilled and caring providers in 17 specialties.
In addition to the many programs available to the general public and special populations, IU Health works with employers to help maintain and improve the health of their employees. IU Health Business Solutions provides organizations with the opportunity to maximize their employee health care investment with a complete suite of products customizable to the organization’s needs. “As part of the largest health system in the state, we bring employers solutions that will improve the health of their workforce, control costs and contribute to the overall quality of life in our community,” says Mary Ann Valenta, regional director of strategic integration. For more information about IU Health Business Solutions, call 812-353-2779. For additional information on IU Health’s presence in the community, visit iuhealth.org/Bloomington.
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Energy
Powering the Future Bloomington’s push for sustainability By Lacy Nowling
Boasting two recycling centers, several electric vehicle charging stations and a populace that likes to commute via bicycle, it is clear that sustainability efforts are important to Bloomington, which makes it an attractive stomping ground for skilled and forward-thinking workers. Companies that invest in sustainability find themselves more appealing to the type of workers they hope to bring in, said Julie Weber, business, finance, marketing and HR manager for the Battery Innovation Center (BIC) in Newberry, Ind., southwest of Bloomington. “A sustainability focus should attract technologically minded and motivated people and, as such, should increase the size of the educated and skilled workforce— 38 http://comparebloomington.us
particularly in the STEM areas: science, technology, engineering and math,” she said. “It will be through STEM disciplines that we will solve the nation’s energy issues.” The Battery Innovation Center, founded in 2012, works to produce next-generation energy storage solutions, including developing batteries that store energy produced by alternative sources, such as solar or wind, Weber said. The BIC is located near and collaborates with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, and is “eager to tie in more closely with the Bloomington community and with Indiana University,” she said. The city government has undertaken several sustainability commissions and initiatives and works In Good Company
closely with local businesses to help make Bloomington as environmentally friendly as possible. It regularly teams up with utility companies like Duke Energy, which sends an assessor each year to â&#x20AC;&#x153;identify [the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] points of lower consumption,â&#x20AC;? said Bruce Calloway, Duke Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government and community relations manager. a â&#x20AC;&#x153;The city, [Indiana University] and residents are all concerned about consumption [of energy] and the Bike-to-Work City environment,â&#x20AC;? Calloway said. Hoosier Energy, the power (Bloomberg) supplier to 18 rural electric cooperatives in southern Indiana and western Illinois, seeks to model the best practices. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new headquarters, currently under construction, incorporate many energy efficient features, among them a geothermal heating and cooling system, dual-flush and ultra-low lavatory fixtures, and design elements that take advantage of natural light to reduce electricity use. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We think, as a utility and particularly as a cooperative, that we have an obligation to set a good example in energy efficiency and sustainability,â&#x20AC;? said Mike Rampley, Hoosier Energyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior vice president of
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marketing and business development. The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commission on Sustainability is also collaborating with the Monroe County Government and the nearby Town of Ellettsville, among others, for the Monroe County Energy Challenge, part of the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition. The group is working to come up with innovative ways to reduce energy use within the community in hopes of winning a $5 million prize that would fund those efforts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are the only community in Indiana that is participating in the challenge, and we have a large base of volunteers that are working diligently on this program,â&#x20AC;? said Joe Kielar, accounts manager at Harrell-Fish, Inc, a company specializing in mechanical contracting and one of the collaborators. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even if we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it on, we still plan to incorporate parts of the plan and help further our progress in sustainability.â&#x20AC;? Bloomington, from its residents to its government and area companies, is committed to creating a sustainable and energy-efficient communityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an environment that is sure to appeal to like-minded and skilled individuals for an educated and forward-thinking workforce. Kasey Husk contributed to this article.
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Resources for Economic Development in Bloomington and Monroe County
Bloomington Economic Development Corporation Phone: (812) 335-7346 comparebloomington.us Email: info@comparebloomington.us Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership Phone: (812) 335-7346 http://bloomingtonlifesciences.com Email: info@bloomingtonlifesciences.com Bloomington Technology Partnership http://bloomingtontech.com Email: info@bloomingtontech.com City of Bloomington-Dept. of Economic & Sustainable Development Phone: (812) 349-3418 www.bloomington.in.gov/economicvitality Email: economicvitality@bloomington.in.gov City of Bloomington-Utilities Department Phone: (812) 339-1444 www.bloomington.in.gov/utilities Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Phone: (812) 336-6381 www.chamberbloomington.org Email: info@chamberbloomington.org
Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce Phone: (812) 876-6611 www.ellettsville.in.us Email: chamber@bluemarble.net Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Phone: (812) 336-3681 www.downtownbloomington.com Duke Energy Phone: (812) 337-3015 www.locationindiana.com The Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship Phone: (812) 330-6254 www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/ entrepreneurship Hoosiers by the Numbers www.hoosierdata.in.gov Email: lmidata@dwd.in.gov Hoosier Energy Phone: (812) 876-0294 www.hoosiersites.com Indiana Business Research Center Phone: (812) 855-5507 www.ibrc.indiana.edu
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Resources
Indiana Center for the Life Sciences Phone: (812) 330-6065 www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/icls Indiana Economic Development Corporation Phone: 800-463-8081 www.iedc.in.gov Email: iedc@iedc.in.gov Innovate Indiana Office for Engagement Phone: (812) 855-7353 www.innovate.indiana.edu Email: innovate@indiana.edu
Monroe County Commissioners Phone: (812) 349-2550 www.co.monroe.in.us Email: commissioners@co.monroe.in.us The Switchboard BloomingtonSwitchboard.com Vectren Corporation Phone: (812) 948-4969 www.vectren.com Email: economicdevelopment@vectren.com
Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington Phone: (812) 332-1559 or (866) 447-0700 www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/
Visit Bloomington Phone: (812) 334-8900 or 800-800-0037 www.visitbloomington.com Email: cvb@visitbloomington.com
Indiana Small Business Development Center Phone: (812) 345-9395 www.isbdc.org Email: tphelps@isbdc.org
WorkOne Phone: (812) 331-6008 www.workonesouthcentral.com www.hoosierdata.in.gov
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