Patrick Hoban

The head of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council says addressing residential needs is one key piece to realizing business growth in Bloomington.

Single-family housing starts grew in Normal last year by nearly 49% — though the total number only reached 55.

The Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council has three infrastructure projects and one workforce development program earmarked for a request for funding by Congress and federal agencies as part of the annual One Voice trip to Washington.

Bloomington-Normal leaders are calling for better dialogue between lawmakers, Gov. JB Pritzker, and insurance companies such as Bloomington-based State Farm.

The cost of child care in McLean County is now the fourth highest in the state, according to data compiled by the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council.

The housing shortage in Bloomington-Normal is one of several factors that, if unchecked, could lead to economic stagnation, according to the agency charged with spurring the economy in the Twin Cities. There are signs it's already sapping growth.

Government efforts to address the Bloomington-Normal housing shortage are a work in progress. Every little effort to make it more attractive to develop helps.

A small manufacturer in Bloomington faces many pressures. Joe Diemer has owned Midwest Molding Solutions for a quarter century.

Bloomington-Normal in 2024 spent more time talking about building housing than actually building housing. And don’t expect a construction boom in 2025 either.

McLean County's housing shortage has been ongoing for years. By end of June, City Manager Jeff Jurgens said Bloomington hopes to have a “concrete plan” that “the council can act on.”