It's Your Business: Monroe County 2.0, a roadmap for the future, is in the works
Your community is preparing for the future. In recent months, we have provided Economic Vitality Project (EVP) updates in this column and we’re excited to share the latest insights that residents like you have contributed. The EVP aims to improve life for community membersacross Bloomington, Ellettsville and all areas of Monroe County. By convening partners and neighbors across the community, we are prioritizing challenges to tackle together, while finding ways to support existing efforts and take new actions to address these issues. The EVP focuses on: (1) housing; (2) workforce; (3) business and employment creation; (4) land use and infrastructure; and (5) quality of life.
Many community members have contributed to this shared plan for community prosperity. To date, the EVP is informed by 40-plus existing local studies related to economic development; 630-plus community survey responses; and recent input from about 90 working group participants, 60 focus group and interview participants, and 24 steering and advisory committee members. The EVP is initiated by the Bloomington Economic Development Center with community partners.
Here are the initial results from our community collaboration:
Housing in Monroe County remains a barrier. Housing in our region can be limited, unaffordable and of lesser quality. This hinders opportunities for residents. To increase housing that meets local needs, EVP working groups recommended focusing on sites already identified for housing growth. These include the Hopewell neighborhood, Northpark TIF and areas in Ellettsville. We can streamline development processes through ongoing support, training and convenings among public officials, staff and community organizations working on housing.
More: Robots help build homesThis Indiana company is mixing straw, mud, limestone and robots to build homes
There are opportunities to grow workforce development. Large employers provide major employment, while small businesses add to quality of place and enable innovation. To improve talent retention and attraction, while connecting residents to living and high wage job opportunities, EVP partners recommended developing: (1) a local workforce consortium, (2) a talent recruitment strategy for in-demand and future-focused jobs, and (3) diversity, equity, and inclusion workforce culture and leadership programs.
Our community needs a future-forward vision for diversifying employment opportunities. Cost of living concerns and limited housing have pushed workers into neighboring counties. Workers that live inside the county often seek high-paying jobs located outside of Monroe County. The recommendation from the EVP working groups is to continue developing employment through (1) our key industries, including technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and defense; (2) a community-wide approach to our innovation ecosystem; and (3) a single online business gateway for businesses to access permitting and regulatory resources.
More: Housing sales fall in SeptemberRising borrowing costs chilling Monroe County's housing market; September sales fall 16.5%
Our community recognizes the need to balance necessary development with rural preservation, enabling specific land to be ready for business and housing needs. To do so, EVP working groups recommended deepening efforts to (1) identify land ready for development or redevelopment, while preserving natural and rural assets; (2) streamline local development processes; and (3) develop a regional transportation entity.
The final community need that the EVP addresses is Monroe County’s quality of life. The county is listed as a top place to live, due in part to the investment in the arts, culture, and recreational amenities. EVP working groups recommended (1) supporting existing community partnerships to promote health and social services, (2) improving childcare and (3) increasing the availability and accessibility of arts, culture and recreation for all community members.
This draft road map is being refined with community partners in the coming weeks, to create a final strategy that will be shared and implemented beginning in 2023. It is a co-owned gift to the community, created by the community. Thank you to all who have contributed thus far. To learn more about the EVP and BEDC, visit economicvitalityproject.com and follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.
By Jennifer Pearl is president of Bloomington Economic Development Corp.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe County 2.0: A roadmap for the community prosperity in the works
