Students boost Bloomington business
They're back, and businesses know it. As freshman students moved in and others returned to the area last week, retailers, restaurants and hotels saw an opportunity for sales. "It's a lot of spending, really fast," said Valerie Pena, executive director for the Bloomington Convention and Visitor's Bureau, about move-in week. She estimated the overall economic impact of the rush of students to be as much as $2.5 million, which includes hotels, restaurants and gas stations, but not retailers. "That, for us, midweek -- that's terrific," Pena said.

