City to sponsor grants for local green businesses

Local businesses and organizations now have the chance to receive funding for their sustainable efforts.
The three new pilot programs are the Sustainability Partnership Grant Program, the Arts Partner Grant Program and the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District Forgivable Loan Program.

Each program is funded by the department’s Promotion of Business budget, which is a regular part of the city’s annual budget.

 Over $65,000 is available in varying amounts: a maximum of $10,000 for BEAD forgivable loan applicants, $20,000 for arts partner grants and $5,000 for sustainability grants.

“This is another step in building a new tradition of economic development,” Mayor Mark Kruzan said in a press release.

“Our strategy is not to make Bloomington bigger, but to make Bloomington better by diversifying and strengthening our local economy while protecting the unique character of Bloomington and our natural and human resources.”

The city’s goal is to encourage sustainability while aiding economic growth because over time, the green efforts will come at no cost to the business.

“If all goes as planned, borrowers will have received the full amount of their repayments back at the end of five years,” Miah Michaelsen, assistant economic development director for the arts, said in a press release.

“They can then reinvest that in the project and ensure the community continues to have a new enterprise with new jobs and another key attraction to bring visitors to our
downtown.”

Bloomington’s Sustainability Coordinator Jacqui Bauer said she has spoken to a few interested organizations since the proposal was released Aug. 2, though no official applications have been turned in yet.

“We’d really like to see a cross section of proposals,” Bauer said. Businesses ranging from law firms to restaurants are encouraged to apply.

She said almost any sort of sustainable efforts, such as recycling programs, local and urban gardening or energy efficiency are welcome.

“We want to promote sustainability and get the word out as much as
possible,” Bauer said.

Interested organizations should go to http://bloomington.in.gov/ incentives to get more information on the individual grants.

— Michela Tindera