The Trade’s District Forge building is set to be dedicated mid-November. Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson says the city is trying to make it easier to get tenants.
The district for growing tech companies, startups, and coworking spaces is just north of City Hall.
Thomson said the Lilly Endowment $16 million grant through its College and Community Collaboration will help IU Bloomington and the Trades District spur economic development.
“IU will not be taking over the Trades District," Thomson said. "They're just a critical partner, and that's a really natural partnership to have, and one that I would argue we should have had a while ago.”
She said the vision for the district is to help provide a home off campus for IU and others such as Naval Support Center Crane with meeting spaces and labs.
“We anticipate transferring the balance of the property of the Trades District over to the Trades District management from the RDC. That really creates a shovel-ready situation.”
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She said that will help find the appropriate tenants for The Forge and the remaining parcels of the district.
A 150-room boutique hotel with meeting spaces, dining options, and bar are already planned for two tracts of land east of Rogers Street and north of 10th Street.
