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March 2021 News Releases

Three City Workers Report Positive COVID-19 Test Results in March

One Bloomington Transit (BT) employee, one Parks and Recreation employee, and a Public Works employee each reported receiving a positive result of a COVID-19 viral test over the last week. None of the employees was a close contact of a previous COVID-19 case at the City.

Bloomington Recognized as Indiana's Rising Tech City

TechPoint, a nonprofit, industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s tech ecosystem, announced today that it will recognize the City of Bloomington with a prestigious Rising Tech City Award during the 22nd annual Mira Awards gala on Thursday, April 22.  The Mira Awards celebrate the outstanding people, companies, and products in Indiana’s tech sector each year. 

Bloomington Recognized by The Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City of the World

Bloomington has been named a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation.  Tree Cities of the World is a program founded by The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize cities around the globe that have committed to growing and maintaining their urban forest. 

City Marks One Month Without Report of Employee COVID-19 Case

The City has received no reports of employees’ having received a positive result of a COVID-19 viral test since the last public update on March 18. The last case of COVID-19 among City staff was announced Thursday, February 25.  

CBU Coordinates With IDEM to Resolve Effects of Water Main Break at Local Detention Pond

The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) is currently coordinating with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to resolve the effects of a water main break earlier this month in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Pedestrian-Only Spaces on Portions of Kirkwood Avenue Starting 3/25/21

In a continued effort to safely advance economic vitality and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Bloomington will again create pedestrian-only spaces on three blocks of Kirkwood Avenue, beginning March 25, 2021 and running through June 30, 2021. This timeline may be modified due to the status of the state of emergency and/or COVID-related health department guidelines should the need arise. 

Monroe County Domestic Violence Coalition Invites Public to Attend 2021 Spring Conference

The Monroe County Domestic Violence Coalition invites community members to attend its 2021 spring conference on April 8 and 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m each day via Zoom video conferencing. The conference Ending Violence Together: Addressing Key Needs Described by Survivors will feature a keynote address by Colleen Yeakle, Coordinator of Prevention Initiatives, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

City Provides Incentives to Enhance Public Safety, Strengthen Community Connections

In the service of improving public safety,  Mayor John Hamilton today introduced the details of a pilot program announced last fall designed to help retain and recruit police officers and deepen the Bloomington Police Department’s (BPD) connections in the community. The pilot program includes support for housing and for take-home cars focused on BPD officers living in the city. In combination with other enhancements, such as increased numbers of social workers and neighborhood specialists, resident-based reviews of racial equity and the future of policing, and continual review of best practices through the Board of Public Safety, these changes are designed to continue to improve BPD’s effectiveness in protecting public safety and sustaining public confidence in and relationships with the BPD.

Jackson Creek Trail, Hidden River Pathway, and Lower Cascades Project Updates

Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington.  The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress.

City Announces Vacancy on Redevelopment Commission

The City invites members of the public to apply for an upcoming vacancy on the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (RDC). The RDC oversees housing and neighborhood development, and has the power to investigate opportunities for economic development and redevelopment in the City of Bloomington and the power to create economic development areas, areas needing redevelopment, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts.  The RDC meets twice a month on Mondays at 5 p.m., currently via video conferencing. 

No COVID-19 Employee Cases in Last Week; February’s Employee Case Rate Drops Steeply

The City received no reports of employees’ having received positive results of COVID-19 viral tests since employee cases were last announced on Thursday, February 25.  

Mayor Hamilton Announces Don Griffin, Jr. to be Next Deputy Mayor

Mayor John Hamilton has announced that he will appoint lifelong Bloomingtonian Donald C. Griffin, Jr. as Deputy Mayor, succeeding Mick Renneisen, who has announced his retirement effective April 23. Griffin is a Bloomington native with decades of community service and leadership. He founded, owns and leads Griffin Realty Holdings, Inc. As Deputy Mayor, Griffin will coordinate and oversee 16 City departments and 850 employees working to implement the Hamilton administration's policies and goals, including job creation, affordable housing, quality of life improvements, and efficient and transparent basic governmental services. 

City Invites Proposals to Develop Affordable Housing at Kohr Building on Hospital Site

On behalf of the Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (RDC), the City of Bloomington has issued a Request for Information (RFI) from qualified real estate developers to submit their proposals for potential adaptive reuse of the Kohr Administration Building as a long-term affordable or mixed-income, multi-family residential project. 

Infrastructure Projects Underway to Improve Stormwater Management, Parks, Sidepaths

Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington.  The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress.