Mayor Hamilton Reacts to Cook Group's Expansion Announcement

Mayor John Hamilton reacted enthusiastically to Bloomington-based Cook Group’s recent expansion announcements. Cook’s plans to purchase the former GE property on Curry Pike for a major expansion of core operations are “a huge commitment to their home town and a big day for all of Bloomington and Monroe County,” remarked Mayor Hamilton. “This plan to reuse a major industrial facility and add hundreds of jobs to our local economy shows their unwavering and decades-long commitment to this community, our people, and our future.”

Cook Group also announced a planned sale of Cook Pharmica operations to New Jersey-based Catalent for $950 million, pending regulatory approvals. “We are delighted to welcome Catalent to town as our area’s third major life science company,” said Hamilton. “Cook Pharmica was founded in 2003 and has grown consistently in sales and employment. City government is a proud partner in their efforts, and celebrates the purchase by a public company of this billion-dollar startup, with its own plans for expansion beyond the current 750 employees. I know both city and county officials look forward to working with Catalent and Cook to enable further expansion of jobs and investment in Bloomington.

“Many of us will have roles to play in building and encouraging these businesses. I encourage residents to take advantage of the My Cook Pathway and Achieve Your Degree education programs to prepare themselves for these new job opportunities. These programs help extend the direct impact of jobs and investments to families and households across our region. Bloomington’s future is even brighter with the plans announced today,” concluded Hamilton.