Tag: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Rezone of 140 acres for up to 4,250 housing units gets thumbs up from Bloomington plan commission

Overview map of Summit District PUD.
Close up proximity map of Summit District PUD.
Plan commission president Brad Wisler. (March 19, 2024)
Bloomington interim planning and transportation director Jackie Scanlan. (March 20, 2024)
Travis Vencel, with Sullivan Development, and Angela Parker, legal counsel for Sudbury Associates. (March 20, 2024)

A rezone request from Sudbury Partners, LLC for about 140 acres in the southwest part of the city has been forwarded by Bloomington’s plan commission to the city council with a positive recommendation.

Action by the commission on the rezone request from Sudbury Associates came  on Tuesday night. The vote on the nine-member plan commission was 8–0 7–0 with one abstention, from Chris Smith. Ellen Rodkey was absent.

The planned unit development (PUD) in the southwest of the city, called Summit District, would allow for the construction of 4,250 housing units, in five different new neighborhoods, with construction phased in a way that foresees a build-out over the next decade. Continue reading “Rezone of 140 acres for up to 4,250 housing units gets thumbs up from Bloomington plan commission” →

Bloomington city council OKs convention center interlocal accord, but not unanimously

Bloomington city councilmember Kate Rosenbarger.
Monroe County capital improvement board president John Whikehart.
Downtown Bloomington, Inc. executive director Talisha Coppock.
Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson.
Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce director of advocacy Christopher Emge.
Bloomington corporation counsel Margie Rice.

The governance structure for the expansion of the Monroe Convention center, which currently stands at 3rd Street and College Avenue, is now settled.

On Wednesday night, Bloomington’s city council approved its side of a four-way interlocal agreement about the way the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) will interact with other local units, to handle the convention center expansion project.

The vote on the nine-member city council was 7–1. Dissenting was Kate Rosenbarger.

The tally does not add to 9, because the District 5 seat is currently vacant, pending the selection of a replacement at Saturday’s (March 2) vacancy caucus to be held by the Democratic Party.

Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson attended Wednesday’s meeting, but did not address the council. After the council’s vote, Thomson responded to a B Square question by saying she would be signing the agreement as soon as it is presented to her.

The city council’s approval came after the Monroe County commissioners approved the agreement last week,  and the county council adopted it the week before. Continue reading “Bloomington city council OKs convention center interlocal accord, but not unanimously” →

Biopharma firm west of Bloomington gets $10.4M tax break, to make $225M investment, add 130 new jobs

Locator map for vicinity of the Simtra facility on Curry Pike. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1o1m3uZPVej7Yonmy21xEr-E_P4GaZ7c&usp=sharing
The purple parcel is the Simtra parcel where the expansion will be constructed. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1o1m3uZPVej7Yonmy21xEr-E_P4GaZ7c&usp=sharing

A tax abatement worth a total of around $10.4 million, which was granted by Monroe County’s council on Tuesday night, has cleared the way for Simtra BioPharma Solutions (formerly Baxter Pharmaceutical) to build a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at its Curry Pike facility just outside Bloomington’s western city limits.

According to Simtra, the investment means a $145 million investment in capital equipment, and another $80,000 in real property investment. The company says that the expansion will create 130 new jobs with an average salary plus benefits worth $73,379 a year.

Simtra’s paperwork indicates 1,039 current employees, so adding 130 would bring the total to around 1,169.

The company expects to have completed the project in about two and a half years, by September 2026. Continue reading “Biopharma firm west of Bloomington gets $10.4M tax break, to make $225M investment, add 130 new jobs” →

Elections 2024: Thomas, Iversen square off for builders in Dems primary for county commissioner

Appearing on Thursday in front of around 130 people at the monthly meeting of the Building Association of South Central Indiana (BASCI) at the Bloomington Country Club were Julie Thomas and Peter Iversen.

The two are candidates in the Democratic Party’s primary race for Monroe County commissioner District 2. Thomas is the incumbent, who has served in the role since 2013. Iversen is currently in the middle of a four-year term serving on the county council.

To run for the seat, Thomas and Iversen are required to live in District 2, which coincides with Bloomington Township. That is the northern half of the city of Bloomington.

But the vote for county commissioner seats is countywide. That means any eligible voter who participates in the Democratic Party’s primary will have a choice between Thomas and Iversen.

Asking the questions on Thursday was John Fernandez, who is a former mayor of Bloomington. They covered topics like economic development, housing, and land use. Continue reading “Elections 2024: Thomas, Iversen square off for builders in Dems primary for county commissioner” →

Indiana lawmakers talk mental health at Bloomington Chamber event

District 44 state senator Eric Koch. (Jan. 12, 2024)
District 40 state senator Shelli Yoder. (Jan. 12, 2024)
District 46 state representative Bob Heaton. (Jan. 12, 2024)
District 60 state representative Peggy Mayfield. (Jan. 12, 2024)

More than 100 people were assembled at The Mill at midday on Friday for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce Legislative Preview.

This year’s session of the Indiana legislature started on Jan. 8 and will wrap up by mid-March.

Friday’s crowd got to hear four Indiana state legislators answer a question posed by Bloomington’s new mayor Kerry Thomson—about mental health.

Thomson’s question, which she had written out on one of the cards distributed for that purpose, was read aloud by the Bloomington Chamber’s CEO, Eric Spoonmore:

The state is experiencing a mental health and substance use crisis. This cannot be addressed simply at the local level. What can be done about it at the state level, to ensure health care before criminal justice?

Taking a crack at the question in turn were the four state legislators who attended the event: Eric Koch (District 44 state senator), Shelli Yoder (District 40 state senator), Bob Heaton (District 46 state representative), and Peggy Mayfield (District 60 state representative).

Yoder is a Democrat. The other three are Republicans. Continue reading “Indiana lawmakers talk mental health at Bloomington Chamber event” →

Bloomington city council’s first meeting puts familiar faces in leadership, gives public safety some airtime

Shruti Rana (Jan. 10, 2024)
Matt Flaherty (Jan. 10, 2024)
Hopi Stosberg (Jan. 10, 2024)
Dave Rollo (Jan. 10, 2024)
Kate Rosenbarger (Jan. 10, 2024)
Isak Asare (Jan. 10, 2024)
Gretchen Knapp (Jan. 10, 2024)
Kerry Thomson (Jan. 10, 2024)
Sydney Zulich (Jan. 10, 2024)
Isabel Piedmont-Smith (Jan. 10, 2024)
Kerry Thomson (Jan. 10, 2024)
Andy Ruff (Jan. 10, 2024)
Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson addresses the city council (Jan. 10, 2024)
Bloomington’s city council (Jan. 10, 2024)

On Wednesday, the 2024 edition of Bloomington’s city council gathered for the first time at city hall since it was sworn in on New Year’s Day.

One of the first orders of business at the council’s first meeting, which is required by state law, was to choose a president and vice president to serve for the upcoming year.

The job of president went to District 1 representative Isabel Piedmont-Smith. The job of vice president went to at-large representative Andy Ruff.

A requirement of local law, but not state statute, is to choose a parliamentarian. The job of parliamentarian went to District 3 representative Hopi Stosberg.

For all three council officer positions, those who were chosen were the only members nominated. The votes were all unanimous on the nine-member council.

Much of Wednesday’s meeting was first-of-the-year housekeeping, including the introduction of new Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson, and deputy mayor Gretchen Knapp, who each delivered brief remarks.

Also introduced were some new department heads: Jane Kupersmith, head of economic and sustainable development; Jessica McClellan, city controller; and Sharmaine Pechac, head of human resources.

But the topic of public safety—in general, as well as in connection with the clearance of a homeless encampment last Thursday—got some discussion at the meeting. Continue reading “Bloomington city council’s first meeting puts familiar faces in leadership, gives public safety some airtime” →

Tax abatement gets final OK from Monroe County, could mean NHanced production of chips by fall 2024

Bob Patti, CEO of NHanced Semiconductors, explains how semiconductors are built.
Monroe County council (Dec. 12, 2023)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1MPwXPeN28DzOspwyZ6qBPWWBbs5nzKU&usp=sharing

Winning unanimous approval from the seven-member Monroe County council on Tuesday night was the approval of a request from NHanced Semiconductors for a 10-year tax abatement.

Based on remarks from NHanced CEO Bob Patti made at Tuesday’s meeting, the company could start semiconductor production in Bloomington by fall of 2024.

The request was for 100 percent of personal property taxes each year, in exchange for a planned $152-million investment by NHanced.

NHanced did not ask for any abatement of real property taxes. Its investment will be almost exclusively in personal property.

Personal property refers to movable assets like equipment, while real property means immovable assets, like land and buildings.

The county council’s approval on Tuesday followed the previous week’s approval by county commissioners.  Tuesday’s county council vote was the final action needed. Continue reading “Tax abatement gets final OK from Monroe County, could mean NHanced production of chips by fall 2024” →

Monroe County gives first OK for high-tech tax break: $152M investment to bring 250 jobs averaging $100K+

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1MPwXPeN28DzOspwyZ6qBPWWBbs5nzKU&usp=sharing

NHanced Semiconductors says it wants to make a $152-million investment in the now mostly vacant Cook Medical property at 301 N. Curry Pike west of Bloomington, so that it can establish a microelectronics manufacturing and packaging facility there.

By 2029, NHanced says that the company’s planned investments will be mostly completed. The company’s anticipated growth would mean 250 new jobs, paying an average of better than $100,000 a year, according to NHanced.

All that depends on a requested tax abatement from the Monroe County government.

For each of the next 10 years, NHanced is asking for 100-percent abatement of the taxes associated with the personal property investments at its planned facility. NHanced is not asking for any abatement of the taxes on the real property improvements that it makes.

Personal property refers to movable assets like equipment, while real property means immovable assets, like land and buildings.

Winning easy approval from all three Monroe County commissioners on Wednesday morning was the approval of a statement of benefits in support of the tax abatement for NHanced Semiconductors.

That was the first of two steps for the semiconductor company to receive its requested tax abatement. The second and final step for the abatement could come next Tuesday, Dec. 12. That’s when the tax abatement for NHanced Semiconductors is expected to appear on the meeting agenda for the Monroe County council, which is Monroe County government’s fiscal body. Continue reading “Monroe County gives first OK for high-tech tax break: $152M investment to bring 250 jobs averaging $100K+” →

Bloomington boards act on tents, belongings in parks, public right-of-way

Board of public works

Board of public works from left: Jennifer Lloyd, Elizabeth Karon, and Kyla Cox Deckard (Aug. 15, 2023)
District 6 Democratic Party nominee for city council Sydney Zulich (Aug. 15, 2023)
Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce president Eric Spoonmore (Aug. 15, 2023)

Board of park commissioners

Bloomington resident Nick Angelos (Aug. 16, 2023)
Board of park commissioners from left: Israel Herrera, Kathleen Mills, and Ellen Rodkey. (Aug. 16, 2023)
Christopher Emge with the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce (Aug. 16, 2023)

On Tuesday, Bloomington’s board of public works passed a resolution asking that the city council enact an ordinance that will keep the public right-of-way clear of tents or belongings.

It’s not clear when or if the city council will follow the board’s recommendation.

The following day, the board of park commissioners took action, to enact a new policy that essentially prohibits tents in parks. The new policy takes effect on Aug. 23—that’s next Wednesday.

Action by the two boards on successive days is part of a general effort by Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s administration, to regulate the way Bloomington’s unhoused population is able to use public space.

Director of public works Adam Wason described to the three-member board of public how the draft ordinance would make clear that the police have the legal authority, to immediately clear the right-of-way of someone’s belongings, if they do not respond to a request to move.

Parks and recreation director Paula McDevitt told the board that the intent of the new policy against tents and other makeshift enclosures is to ensure that parks areas can be used and enjoyed “by the whole community.” The way tents are now used in parts has created serious public health and safety risks, due in part to illegal activity, McDevitt said.

McDevitt said the policy does not prohibit unenclosed shade structures, if they don’t shield from public view what is happening under them.

At both meetings, commentary from the public mic in favor of the administration’s position came from business owners, and business advocacy groups—the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Bloomington, Inc.

Public comment against the administration’s approach came from social service workers, members of mutual aid groups like Help Ourselves, and other advocates for the unhoused. Continue reading “Bloomington boards act on tents, belongings in parks, public right-of-way” →

Capital improvement board created, convention center expansion takes small step forward

A seven-member capital improvement board (CIB) has finally been created to provide the governance for a long-planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center.

The unanimous vote by the three county commissioners to create the CIB came at their regular Wednesday meeting. Their vote was greeted with a rare round of applause in the Nat U. Hill room at the county courthouse.

Clapping enthusiastically in the audience for the vote were county councilors Geoff McKim, and Peter Iversen, as well as Eric Spoonmore, who is a former county councilor and now CEO of the Great Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

That appears to end the wrangling between the county commissioners and Bloomington mayor John Hamilton, over the governance of the expansion project, which has stalled the joint city-county effort since early March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Hamilton’s preferred way of handling the tasks that the CIB will oversee would have been through a nonprofit. A CIB is a public body, which the county commissioners can create under state law.

Still to be negotiated are the details of an interlocal agreement between the city and the county governments, which would lay out, among other things, the way that any land now owned by the city or the county will be incorporated into the expansion project. Continue reading “Capital improvement board created, convention center expansion takes small step forward” →