Economic Development

In his first State of the City speech, Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady said the city has accomplished a lot in his first year in office.

After more than eight years of trying, the Town of Normal may be able to move ahead with the Trail East and West developments on Uptown Circle. And if council members balk at a price increase for the Uptown Underpass, the town could have to repay millions in grant funding.

The state has announced a $5 million grant for the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District [BNWRD] that is intended to stimulate business development on the west side of the Twin Cities.

Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said he's pleased with the redevelopment of the former Pantagraph print building on West Jefferson Street. The building has reopened with the 8 Bit Arcade, a retro-style video game and pinball arcade and bar on the main floor.

The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council has named an interim chief executive officer. Tyler Cravens will hold the position while the council conducts a national search for someone to succeed Patrick Hoban.

Ten of the 11 people who spoke during the public comments portion of Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting voiced opposition to a perceived possibility of a data center development south of Central Illinois Regional Airport.

McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said she disagrees, in part, with Twin City mayors Dan Brady and Chris Koos who have criticized the performance of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. Johnston said she thinks the EDC has delivered a lot of bang for the buck.

Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady acknowledged in a WGLT interview the city has already begun to go its own way in project advocacy. Brady has been critical of the annual One Voice collective community lobbying trip to Washington. The city sent its delegation a day early this year to push its own projects.

The head of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council has submitted his resignation. Patrick Hoban led the EDC for six years. This opens the door to a broader discussion of the role of the EDC in the Twin Cities.

The updated tentative price to build the Uptown underpass project in Normal is about $33.7 million. That is above the roughly $32 million bid approved in November. The previous winning bidder withdrew over concerns about timing and its ability to meet the cost.