City of Bloomington, IN - Economic & Sustainable Development

09/04/2026

Downtown Bloomington, Inc. (DBI), in partnership with the City of Bloomington, invites individual artists and artist teams to respond to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design and paint a traffic box in downtown Bloomington. As an RFQ, applicants are asked to submit examples of their past work and relevant experience—not a full design concept—so a jury can select the right artist for the project before design work begins. The budget for this project includes a $750 artist honorarium and up to $500 in materials and supplies, paid for by Downtown Bloomington, Inc. The deadline to apply is September 13th, 2026.

Project Summary
If selected, the artist will develop a traffic box design that will visually represent Bloomington’s native flowers, nature, or wildlife. Designs should be vibrant, colorful, and may be representational or abstract. Artworks must adhere to the City’s Art in the Right of Way policy.

Timeline
Application Opens: August 31st, 2026
Application Deadline: September 13th, 2026
Artist Selected: Week of September 20, 2026
Final Design Due: Monday, October 5th
Painting Installation: October 20th- November 16th

How to Apply
The application portal opens on August 31st, 2026. Submissions must be received by 11:59 P.M. EST on September 13th, 2026. Apply by visiting bloomington.in.gov/arts/public-art

08/19/2026

We’re glad to support a key community center in Bloomington’s Near West Side! With the help of a $10,000 SEEL grant from the City of Bloomington Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, Bethel AME Church installed energy-efficient Energy Star Certified windows. Energy Star certification means the windows are highly insulating and prevent excess heat transfer from sunlight shining into the building. These qualities keep a building’s interior temperature more stable than traditional windows, resulting in significant utility cost savings.

Allan Edmonds, who coordinated the grant project, said “The SEEL grant prompted the Bethel AME Church to think hard about what energy efficiency projects would be the most helpful. We soon honed in on replacing the old original, single pane windows, which were badly deteriorated and very drafty. We are pleased with the looks of the 39 new windows and expect more energy efficient heating and cooling in the future as a result.” The project received approval from the Historic Preservation Commission because the original wood trim around the windows was preserved and painted.

Congratulations to Bethel AME Church for earning the SEEL grant alongside substantial extra fundraising to make this building improvement a reality.

Learn more about the SEEL Grant Program at bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/seel

08/11/2026

The 2026 Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program offers rebates for energy-efficient home upgrades such as solar PV systems, heat pump HVAC systems, windows, doors, insulation and more. Apply soon; we have already spent 68% of this year's program budget! Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is depleted.

Homeowners within City limits can earn a 25% rebate for qualifying home upgrades. Income-qualified applicants may earn a 40% rebate. Rebate maximum amounts vary depending on the project type. Check out the program guidelines and rebate amounts on the BGHIP website: bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/bghip

08/05/2026

07/21/2026

The City of Bloomington is celebrating five years of progress implementing the Climate Action Plan, adopted by the Bloomington Common Council in 2021. To mark the milestone, the City released its 2024 Community-Wide and Municipal Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report, which shows Bloomington remains on track to meet its goal of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 2018 levels by 2030.

"Climate action is about more than reducing emissions," said Shawn Miya, Assistant Director of Sustainability. "It's about making Bloomington healthier, more affordable, and more resilient. The greenhouse gas inventory provides the data we need to measure our progress, evaluate what is working, and identify where future investments can have the greatest impact. While we're on track to meet our 2030 goal, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will require continued innovation, collaboration, and investment."

Read the full report: https://bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/greenhouse-gas-inventory

To find actions you can take to reduce emissions, visit the Climate Action Plan Dashboard: https://bloomington.climatenavhub.com/

07/20/2026

Got a green idea for your block? Applications are open for the 2026 Sustainable Neighborhoods Grant, offering up to $1,000 to support small, resident-led projects that align with the City’s climate action goals. From community gardens to compost bins, pollinator plots to solar panels, this grant is about neighbors making your corner of Bloomington more climate-friendly. If your idea helps the planet and brings people together, we want to hear it.

Apply at the link in our bio or at https://bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/neighborhood-grants

07/13/2026

The City of Bloomington has awarded $76,000 in Arts Project Grants to a variety of artists, arts organizations, and community groups. The recipients of the Arts Project Grants will use their funding to produce public arts programming that enriches Bloomington’s vibrant cultural scene. Award amounts range up to $3,000, with most recipients receiving partial funding.

Projects awarded as part of the 2026 Arts Project grant cycle embody the dynamic, artistic spirit of Bloomington, celebrate and support its local artists, and provide more opportunities for Bloomington residents and visitors to experience the arts.

To learn more about the awarded projects and recipients, visit bloomington.in.gov/news

06/29/2026

Due to the expected high heat midweek next week, Cooling Stations will be open in Monroe County for those needing temporary relief from the heat.

Dates: Tuesday, June 30 through Friday, July 3

Times Open: 10am to 6pm