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October 2021 News Releases

Bloomington Fire Department to Conduct Controlled Live Burn Training this Week

The Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) will be conducting a controlled live burn training at 1213 South High Street Tuesday through Friday of this week.  Already slated for demolition, the two-story house at that address was donated to the BFD as an opportunity to conduct live fire training.  All of the required permits for the training have been granted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).  In compliance with state and federal requirements, all utilities have been disconnected and household items removed, including furniture, carpeting, asphalt roofing shingles, roofing underlayment, and vinyl siding.

City Implements Safer Traffic Pattern on East Third Street at Mitchell

To address an ongoing safety concern, the City of Bloomington recently implemented changes to traffic patterns along East Third Street near the Indiana University campus where the road transitions from two-way to one-way traffic flow. 

City Reports One New COVID-19 Case in Past Week

A Bloomington Transit (BT) employee reported receiving a positive result of a COVID-19 viral test on Friday, October 22 after first experiencing symptoms on Thursday, October 21.  It is the only positive COVID-19 viral test result reported among the City’s workforce over the past seven days.  The employee had not been identified as a close contact of a prior COVID-19 case among the City workforce, and no co-workers or members of the public were in turn identified as close contacts of this employee. 

Bloomington Environmental Commission Announces Winners of 2021 Eco-Heroes Art Contest

The City of Bloomington’s Environmental Commission announces the winners of the 2021 Eco-Heroes Art Contest, who were recognized September 24 in a presentation posted to the Environmental Commission’s Facebook page.  Seeking to encourage a connection to the natural world through creativity, the contest invited residents to submit works of art on the theme “Mission: Lower Emissions.”  The winning pieces were selected from drawings, videos, sculptures, paintings, essays, poetry, and other works of art submitted by 40 local artists of all ages highlighting the importance of using cleaner energy, lowering emissions, and promoting environmental sustainability. 

City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Program to Host Young Women’s Leadership Summit

The City of Bloomington Safe and Civil City Program (SCCP) invites middle  and high school-aged female-identifying students to attend a one-day Young Women’s Leadership Summit on Thursday, November 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. via Zoom. “The Big Idea” is the theme of the third annual summit.  Although focused on African American and Latina girls, the summit is open to young women of all races and backgrounds.

Organizations Invited to Apply for 2021 Local Food Mini-Grant Program

The City of Bloomington Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD) Department invites local organizations to apply for City funding to increase economically disadvantaged residents’ access to healthy, fresh, and affordable foods. The 2021 Local Food Mini-Grant program is designed to create quick and simple access to funding for organizations that are already working in food insecurity and may support a range of activities in service of food access. Funded through the ESD operational budget to address financial food insecurity and improve local food access (per Climate Action Plan Strategy FA 1-A), the 2021 program offers funding up to $2,500 per organization.  

Mayor Provides Update Relating to the 2022 Proposed Budget

Mayor John Hamilton provided an update relating to the 2022 City budget ahead of the City Council vote scheduled for Wednesday, October 27. The update reflects ongoing dialogue and discussion with Council members and the public, which began in earnest in April and have continued through this month.

Goat Farm design rendering sample

City Parks Department to Unveil Final Design for Goat Farm Park Amenities at Open House Nov. 1

Updated plan includes additional seating, accessible trails

City of Bloomington Awards 2021 Digital Equity Grant Funds to Nine Area Nonprofits

The City of Bloomington Information & Technology Services Department (ITS) announces the 2021 Digital Equity Grants awards to support Bloomington-based nonprofit organization efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents.  Now in its second year, this grant program is funded through Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse, and advance racial, economic, and climate justice.  

Bloomington Receives 2021 Aim Community Placemaking Award for Switchyard Park

Bloomington has received the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) Community Placemaking Award for the development of Switchyard Park. The award was announced October 6 during the 2021 Aim Ideas Summit in French Lick, Ind. Bloomington won the statewide award in the greater than 50,000 population category.

ITS Department Donates Surplus Equipment to United Way, Bloomington Housing Authority

The City of Bloomington Information Technology Services (ITS) Department will be donating recently decommissioned surplus equipment to United Way of Monroe County and the Bloomington Housing Authority (BHA), which operates the City’s public housing and housing voucher program.  In all, seventeen monitors and computers will be donated to United Way and the BHA for use in their operations or those of their clients. 

Economic and Sustainable Development Department Presents 2021 Climate and Sustainability Progress Report to Council

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton invites community members to attend an update to the Common Council on progress toward achieving community climate and sustainability goals.  The presentation will cover the state of sustainability and climate action in Bloomington and the City’s ongoing efforts and investments to increase it.

City Reports One New COVID-19 Case in Past Week

City Hosts Ceremony to Recognize Bloomington’s ISO 1 Fire Safety Classification

Mayor John Hamilton joins City leaders in recognizing the City’s recent attainment of a 1/1x score from the Insurance Services Office, the first city in Indiana to do so.

7-Line Stop Sign

City Implements New Traffic Pattern on East Seventh Street as 7-Line Nears Completion

The City of Bloomington advises motorists to be aware of a new traffic pattern on East Seventh Street as the 7-Line project nears completion. All stop signs on E. Seventh St. between North Walnut Street and North Indiana Avenue have been removed and traffic along the corridor is no longer required to stop at the intersecting streets.

City Reports Three New COVID-19 Cases in Past Week

One Bloomington Transit (BT) employee, one City Hall employee, and one employee of the Street Division of the Department of Public Works (DPW) reported receiving a positive result of a COVID-19 viral test over the last week.  None of these employees had been identified as a close contact of a prior COVID-19 case among the City workforce.

Applications Sought for 2021 Recover Forward Grants for the Arts

The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) and the Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) are seeking applications for funding to foster the arts and cultivate cultural experiences in Bloomington as part of Mayor John Hamilton’s initiative to Recover Forward from the COVID-19 pandemic.