Bloomington Convention Center (formerly Monroe Convention Center)

This is a view of the Monroe Convention Center at the southwest corner of 3rd Street and College Avenue, as it stood on Sept. 9, 2021, as seen the top of the 4th Street parking garage.

The Bloomington Convention center stands at the southwest corner of 3rd Street and College Avenue in downtown Bloomington.

Starting in 2017, the convention center saw renewed focus by local government officials—Bloomington and Monroe County—in their efforts to expand the building footprint and to renovate the existing facility.

2026

• 2026-06-18 Seminary Pointe land swap. Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson issues a news release saying College Square remains an ideal convention center hotel site, invites the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board or its hotel developer to submit an RDC-process proposal that could include a land exchange, and says preserving Seminary Pointe’s 29 affordable units would require a qualified owner or developer, not a land exchange alone. [copy of news release]

• 2026-06-17 Seminary Pointe host hotel schedule. Monroe County’s Capital Improvement Board reviews a Seminary Pointe host-hotel selection schedule with proposals due June 30, special meetings July 1 and July 8, and a July 15 target for choosing a developer, while CIB president John Whikehart says the board does not intend to answer Bloomington RDC’s July 20 College Square offering, making a Seminary Pointe-for-College Square land swap less likely. [copy of news release] [BSB coverage]

• 2026-06-11 Demolition-delay review. Demolition notices posted June 10 on the Seminary Pointe block trigger Bloomington’s 90-day demolition-delay review, while housing advocates continue to press for a Monroe County Capital Improvement Board (CIB)–Bloomington Redevelopment Commission (RDC) land swap to preserve affordable apartments and community businesses instead of clearing the site for a host hotel. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-06-03 Land-swap support letter. Bloomington’s city council votes 8–0, with Kate Rosenbarger absent, to send a revised letter to the RDC supporting a possible College Square–Seminary Pointe land swap even if the transaction is less than equal in dollar value, citing affordable housing and community-business preservation as public benefits. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-06-02 Skywalk road closure. Bloomington’s Board of Public Works approves a Weddle Brothers request to close College Avenue between 3rd and 2nd streets from June 30 to July 24 so the convention center skywalk enclosure can be installed, with a noise-waiver request included. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-05-30 Existing facility upgrades. The CIB signs off on about $2.1 million in upgrades to the existing Bloomington Convention Center, using about $1.6 million from Convention and Visitors Commission innkeeper’s-tax reserves and about $500,000 from CIB construction funds for HVAC, masonry, outside-air, window, kitchen and technology work. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-05-20 Seminary Pointe lease extensions. The CIB extends remaining residential leases and three commercial leases at Seminary Pointe through Aug. 31, 2026, shortens Jeff’s Warehouse’s lease to no later than Sept. 30, 2026, and authorizes executive director John Whikehart to pursue demolition permitting while land-swap discussions continue. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-05-20 Public art selection. The CIB unanimously selects Benjamin Ball’s “A Form of Connection,” an approximately $400,000 aluminum installation wrapping the skywalk over College Avenue, as the convention center expansion’s signature public art project. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-04-24 Seminary Pointe hotel RFP. The CIB approves a new request for proposals for a host hotel on Seminary Pointe and nearby downtown parcels, with responses due June 30, while housing advocates continue urging a land swap to preserve the block’s affordable housing. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-04-21 College Square public offering. The RDC approves a public offering for the roughly two-acre College Square site, sets a $7.59 million minimum offer based on appraisals, and declines the CIB’s request for a 30-day pause to explore a Seminary Pointe land swap; responses are due July 20. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-04-18 College Square price. The RDC’s pending public offering for College Square sets a $7.59 million minimum, while the CIB asks for a pause so it can discuss trading Seminary Pointe to the RDC in exchange for College Square as a host-hotel site. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-04-15 CIB accepts parcels. The CIB accepts transfers of Seminary Pointe and related downtown parcels and seeks talks with the RDC about a land swap that could put the host hotel on College Square while preserving Seminary Pointe for affordable housing. [BSB coverage] [copy of interlocal agreement]

• 2026-04-14 County property transfer. The Monroe County Council approves a resolution authorizing the transfer of county-owned downtown real estate, including Seminary Pointe, to the CIB for convention-center host-hotel purposes, with council president Jennifer Crossley abstaining and the other councilors voting yes. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-04-06 City parking-lot transfer. The RDC approves transfer of city-owned parking parcels near the convention center to the CIB as part of assembling land for a host hotel; the expansion has a $52 million construction budget and an overall project budget of about $70 million. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-03-12 Seminary Pointe housing conflict. The revised host-hotel strategy focuses attention on Seminary Pointe, where tenants paying roughly $400–$700 in rent receive nonrenewal notices and advocates press for a land-trust or land-swap approach instead of demolition. [BSB coverage]

• 2026-02-18 South-parcel commitment. Mayor Kerry Thomson and CIB executive director John Whikehart send a joint letter saying the administration supports processes that could make city-owned land south of the convention center available to the CIB at no cost, subject to approvals, after the prior Dora/College Square effort stalls. [BSB coverage] [copy of joint letter] [copy of 2024 city land letter]

• 2026-02-05 Dora hotel effort ends. The CIB unanimously ends the current Dora Hospitality host-hotel effort after learning it does not control the south-parcel land needed for Dora’s letter of intent, and it directs staff to look for county parcels and prepare for a possible new RFP. [BSB coverage] [copy of 2024 hotel RFP] [copy of 2024 city land letter]

• 2026-01-21 Dora south-option letter. Dora Hospitality presents a letter of intent for a five-story, 200-room full-service hotel south of the existing convention center, seeking donated land and no additional public subsidy, and the CIB sets a Feb. 5 special meeting to review the proposal. [BSB coverage] [copy of city news release and Whikehart response] [copy of interlocal agreement]

2025

• 2025-12-17 Dora deadline extended. The CIB gives Dora Hospitality until Jan. 21, 2026, to report concrete prospects for a host-hotel real estate deal, after Bloomington RDC officials say no agreement has been reached for College Square and the funding gap remains unresolved. [BSB coverage] [copy of Hunden hotel report] [copy of 2024 council letter]

• 2025-12-16 Skybridge installation closure. Bloomington’s Board of Public Works approves a two-week closure of College Avenue starting Jan. 26, 2026, followed by a single-lane phase through June 26, for installation of the convention center skybridge over College Avenue. [BSB coverage]

• 2025-12-15 RDC host-hotel resolution. The RDC adopts an amended Resolution 25-136 supporting a convention center host hotel on the College Square property, with John West dissenting, while staff indicate no Dora deal is ready for the CIB’s Dec. 17 deadline. [BSB live coverage]

• 2025-12-10 Council-RDC work session. City council members and RDC members discuss possible use of the College Square site for a host hotel, with several council members objecting to a no-cost or low-cost land transfer and pointing to a 2024 council letter seeking to recoup the roughly $6.9 million purchase cost. [BSB coverage] [copy of staff memo] [copy of meeting audio] [copy of 2024 council letter]

• 2025-12-01 RDC postpones land-donation resolution. The RDC delays action on a resolution that could make the roughly $7 million College Square property available for a host hotel at little or no cost, after councilmembers Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Hopi Stosberg and Andy Ruff speak against the approach. [BSB coverage]

• 2025-11-19 Host-hotel no-deal scenario. The CIB discusses the possibility that Dora Hospitality and the RDC will not reach a College Square deal, while construction continues and CIB members consider whether to reduce hotel scope items such as a 3rd Street skywalk, rooftop bar and underground parking. [BSB coverage] [copy of construction update] [copy of 2024 hotel RFP]

• 2025-11-19 Construction and public art update. CIB project staff report that about 13% of the $2.4 million construction contingency has been used, including a $126,815 change order for deeper foundation work near a sanitary sewer, while the public-art process draws 180 applications for a $400,000 signature project. [BSB coverage] [copy of construction update]

• 2025-10-15 Host-hotel deadline. The CIB unanimously gives Dora Hospitality and the RDC 60 days, until Dec. 17, to show concrete progress on a College Square land deal or risk a new hotel RFP, while Weddle Brothers reports foundation pours and incoming structural steel for the $52 million expansion. [BSB coverage] [copy of interlocal agreement]

• 2025-09-17 Footings and alternates. The CIB reports that the first concrete pour for expansion footings is scheduled for Sept. 19, and it approves about $506,816 in existing-building alternates for kitchen equipment and A/V technology infrastructure after construction awards come in under the $52 million budget. [BSB coverage]

• 2025-09-17 Food-and-beverage tax review. Bloomington’s city council votes 8–1, with Kate Rosenbarger dissenting, to ask the Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission to review the CIB’s proposed 2026 budget of $8,958,017. [BSB coverage]

• 2025-07-30 Construction bids. The CIB approves the final round of construction awards, bringing total contracts to about $50.9 million, under the $52 million construction budget, with base-bid awards including Weddle Brothers, Harrell-Fish, Hagerman, Multicraft, Sowders and other contractors. [BSB coverage] [copy of bid-award slide deck] [copy of July bid slide deck]

• 2025-07-30 Sewer cost dispute. The CIB and Bloomington Utilities continue negotiating who will pay for relocating and upsizing an 18-inch sanitary sewer to 24 inches at the expansion site, with CIB officials saying the cost should come from soft-cost funds rather than the $52 million bond construction proceeds. [BSB coverage] [copy of design update]

• 2025-06-18 Construction traffic plan. Bloomington’s Board of Public Works approves a maintenance-of-traffic plan for convention center construction, including lane and pedestrian changes near 3rd Street and College Avenue, while CIB members receive a briefing on the requested sanitary-sewer upsizing. [BSB coverage] [copy of design update]

• 2025-06-03 Expansion groundbreaking. Local officials hold a ceremonial groundbreaking at 3rd Street and College Avenue for the roughly 60,000-square-foot convention center expansion, with demolition of the former NAPA building and utility relocation work moving into the construction sequence. [BSB coverage]

• 2025-06-02 Host-hotel design funds. The RDC approves $300,000 for preliminary architectural designs for Dora Hospitality’s proposed host hotel at the former Bunger & Robertson site, with Randy Cassady dissenting, bringing RDC soft support for site review and design work to about $400,000. [BSB coverage] [copy of 2024 hotel RFP]

• 2025-03-26 Real estate for hotel. Bloomington economic and sustainable development director Jane Kupersmith tells the CIB that a deal involving the land north of the existing convention center, formerly owned by Bunger and Robertson, could appear on the April 7, 2025 agenda for Bloomington's RDC. [BSB coverage] [WayBM]
• 2025-03-05 Finances. On a 6-0 vote, the Bloomington City Council approves $46.8 million in bonds to help fund the $70 million convention center expansion project. The debt service will be paid with food and beverage tax revenue, with economic development local income tax proceeds as a backup. The construction is expected to begin in June 2025 and be completed by February 2027. Absent from the meeting are Kate Rosenbarger, Matt Flaherty and Andy Ruff. [BSB coverage] Part of the discussion prior to the vote centers on the role of labor unions and their request for a project labor agreement (PLA) with the Monroe County capital improvement board, which oversees the project. [BSB coverage]
• 2025-02-19 Monroe County's capital improvement board (CIB) votes to change the name of the facility from Monroe Convention Center to Bloomington Convention Center, as it is allowed to do under the terms of the interlocal agreement.
• 2025-01 Bloomington plan commission and Bloomington board of zoning appeals activity. ??

2024

• 2024-12-11 Monroe County's capital improvement board (CIB) gets a status update on several aspects of the convention center expansion. The CIB creates a 3-person committee of its members (Jay Baer, Joyce Poling and Jim Silberstein) to recommend a process for deciding a name for the convention center. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-11-12 During a Monroe County Council meeting about of the location for a new jail, Bloomington resident Joe Davis calls for using the land south of 3rd Street, where the convention center expansion is proposed. Councilor Geoff McKim responds by saying that the parcel "is far too small” for a new jail. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-23 The final project definition (aka schematic design) for the expansion of the Monroe Convention Center is approved unanimously by the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB). The CIB’s approval allows the architect, Schmidt Associates, to begin the actual design phase of the project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-23 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) unanimously approves the final project definition (aka schematic design) for the expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. The CIB’s approval will allow the architect, Schmidt Associates, to begin the actual design phase of the project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-21 Bloomington’s redevelopment commission (RDC) approves $25,000 for appraisals of real estate in the city’s TIF (tax increment finance) district. No specific properties were listed in the resolution approved by the five-member board. But it’s apparent that one of the properties, for which two fair market appraisals are needed, will be the former Bunger & Robertson property—which is across 3rd Street, north of the Monroe Convention Center. That property is being eyed by Dora Hospitality as the best site for a hotel to complement the planned new convention center. Dora is the hotelier preferred by the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB). [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-09 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) votes to select Dora Hospitality LLC over Garfield Public/Private LLC and MHG Hotels LLC as the preferred hotelier for the convention center expansion project. The CIB also gets a breakdown of project expenses that shows a total cost of about $70.7 million, which includes a construction cost of about $52 million. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-09 Bloomington city council approves a $899,400 budget for the Monroe County capital improvement board, as part of the city’s regular 2025 budget. The CIB’s line in the city budget is for an expenditure from the food and beverage tax fund to pay for the convention center expansion. A petition filed by Bloomington resident Joe Davis and others has no impact on the vote. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-10-03 Bloomington resident Joe Davis and 9 others file a petition objecting to the City of Bloomington's 2025 budget, asking that “no monies be appropriated for the expansion of the Monroe County Convention Center, at this time.” [BSB coverage]
• 2024-09-11 Architects Schmidt Associates provides the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) with an updated concept for the 60,000-square-foot convention center expansion. It’s a single concept that merges two previous ideas. The CIB also gets an assessment of proposals from three hoteliers. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-09-04 Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) hears presentations from three different hoteliers who responded to a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a hotel in connection with the convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-09-04 Members of Monroe County's capital improvement board (CIB) present their proposed 2025 budget to the Bloomington city council. Council passes a resolution requesting that the FABTAC (food and beverage tax advisory commission) review the planned expenditure of food and beverage tax revenues for the CIB’s nearly $900,000 budget for 2025, Dissenting are Matt Flaherty and Kate Rosenbarger. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-08-14 Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) receives three preliminary schematic designs for the planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center at College Avenue and 3rd Street. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-07-10 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) approves two contracts: a $4.4-million contract with architect Schmidt Associates, and a nearly $1-million contract with construction manager Weddle Bros. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-06-12 Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) chooses Weddle Bros. as construction manager for the convention center expansion project. The CIB also decides that real estate to the east of the current convention center will become the location of the expansion of the current center, which stands at the southwest corner of 3rd Street and College Avenue. The CIB also gives a green light to its legal counsel, Jim Whitlatch of Bunger & Robertson, to start working on a contract with its selected architectural firm, Schmidt Associates, for design work. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-06-12 In two unanimous votes, the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) selects Weddle Bros. to be the construction manager (as contractor) for the Monroe Convention Center renovation and expansion project and decides that the project will be located to the east of the existing convention center, across College Avenue, on land owned by Monroe County government. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-06-05 On a unanimous vote, Bloomington’s city council adopts a letter to the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) about its views on 21 different specific topics related to the renovation and expansion project for the Monroe Convention Center. Topics range from use of on-site fossil fuels, to inclusion of space dedicated to monthly or biweekly youth and/or senior activities, to the portion of the food and beverage tax that should be spent on the expansion project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-06-04 Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) interviews three firms for the job of construction manager for the Monroe Convention Center renovation and expansion project: F.A. Wilhelm Construction; Shiel Sexton; and Weddle Bros. Building Group. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-05-22 The Monroe County capital improvement board holds a special meeting and announces that 3 firms are shortlisted for the job of construction manager: F.A. Wilhelm Construction; Shiel Sexton; and Weddle Bros. Building Group. The CIB also voted unanimously not to pursue the northward expansion option for the convention center. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-05-17 The City of Bloomington releases information about appraisals of real estate north of the Monroe Convention Center, which had been purchased by the city's redevelopment commission (RDC). The information shows that the RDC paid $255,000 less than the average of two appraisals for the bigger parcel, and $565,000 more than the average of two appraisals for the smaller parcel. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-05-13 Jim Whitlatch, legal counsel for the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) sends an email to Bloomington corporation council Margie Rice, informing her that the CIB will not be negotiating with the city of Bloomington on the acquisition of land north of the existing convention center for a planned expansion project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-05-08 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) gets an update on two separate processes: bringing on board a construction manager as constructor for the convention center expansion, and striking a deal with a hotelier. The CIB also gets updated preliminary schematics for expansion options from Schmidt Associates, the architectural firm that the CIB retained to continue its preliminary conceptual design work from five years prior. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-04-24 Monroe County commissioners approve the content of a letter to Monroe County’s capital improvement board (CIB) about county-owned real estate near the existing convention center at 3rd Street and College Avenue. The letter says: “It has always been the Board of Commissioners’ intent to provide all necessary property that it owns or controls to the Capital Improvement Board for no compensation.” [BSB coverage]
• 2024-04-23 Monroe County Councilmember Geoff McKim dissents on a vote to make a $6,000 appropriation from food and beverage tax receipts, to pay for a Harrodsburg Heritage Festival fireworks display. McKim wants to establish that he would not support uses of the food and beverage tax for purposes other than the convention center expansion—until it is clear that revenues from the tax will be adequate to pay for the convention center project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-04-10 On a 6-2 vote, Bloomington council approves the Monroe County capital improvement board’s (CIB’s) 2024 budget. Dissenting are Kate Rosenbarger and Matt Flaherty. Andy Ruff is absent. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-04-05 During a Bloomington council work session about Monroe Convention Center expansion project, city controller Jessica McClellan is asked for a historical breakdown of expenditures from the city’s food and beverage tax fund. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-04-03 Bloomington city council holds a work session about the convention center expansion at the urging of councilmember Kate Rosenbarger, who is looking to spend food and beverage tax money on projects other than the convention center. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-03-20 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) picks JS Held to be the owner’s representative for the Monroe Convention Center expansion project. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-02-28 Bloomington’s city council approves its side of a four-way interlocal agreement about the way the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) will interact with other local units, to handle the convention center expansion project. The vote on the nine-member city council is 7–1, with Kate Rosenbarger dissenting and a vacancy in the District 5 seat. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-02-14 The Monroe County capital improvement board the CIB takes action on retaining Schmidt to update the Phase 1 work the firm had done five years prior. The board agrees to pay Schmidt $49,000 for an update to their previous work. [BSB coverage]
• 2024-01-17 Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) issues an RFQ (request for qualifications) for a “construction manager as contractor” for the convention center expansion. Interested firms will have three weeks to respond to the RFQ. The CIB also issue an RFQ for an owner’s representative, and voted to direct its legal counsel, Jim Whitlatch, to contact Schmidt Associates to confirm that the CIB wants Schmidt to be the main architect for the project. [BSB coverage]

2023

• 2023-12-13 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) hears a presentation by a team from Schmidt Associates, led by Sarah Hempstead, which worked on the project four years prior before political wrangling led to a pause that was made longer by the pandemic. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-12-13 During a meeting of the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB), architects Schmidt Associates give a presentation about the convention center expansion. Still pending is the ratification by Monroe County of an interlocal agreement that outlines how county government will work with the city of Bloomington on this project. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-11-08 The Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) appoints Jim Silberstein as its final member. At seven members, the CIB is fully seated. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-10-04 The first six appointees of the Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB) convene their initial meeting. Here’s the list of members with their appointing authority in parens: Mick Renneisen and Adam Thies (Bloomington mayor); John Whikehart and Joyce Poling (Monroe County commissioners); Eric Spoonmore (Monroe County council); and Doug Bruce (Bloomington city council). [BSB coverage]
• 2023-09-01 The City of Bloomington issues a news release announcing Mick Renneisen and Adam Thies as Bloomington mayor John Hamilton’s two appointments to the seven-member Monroe County capital improvement board (CIB). [BSB coverage]
• 2023-07-26 Bloomington city council president Sue Sgambelluri announces her expectation that the council's one appointment to a new seven-member capital improvement board (CIB) could be made at the council’s Sept. 6 meeting. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-07-25 Monroe County Council makes its one appointment to the Monroe County capital improvement board: Eric Spoonmore, president and CEO of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and a former county councilor. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-07-19 Monroe County Commissioners make two appointments to the Monroe County capital improvement board: John Whikehart and Joyce Poling. Whikehart is a former Bloomington deputy mayor, former chancellor of Ivy Tech, and served on a convention center steering committee that was formed in the late 2010s. Poling is assistant to the Ivy Tech chancellor for community engagement, and a former Monroe County commissioner. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-07-05 Monroe County Commissioners unanimously vote to create a 7-member capital improvement board to provide the governance for a long-planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-06-28 At a working session, Monroe County Commissioners discuss putting an ordinance on their July 5 agenda to will establish a seven-member capital improvement board (CIB) to provide the governance structure for the convention center expansion. The previous night on June 27 at a county council work session, the council passes a motion that supports the creation of a CIB. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-06-12 The Bloomington city council convenes a work session on the topic of the planned expansion of the Monroe Convention Center. Discussion centers on a draft of an interlocal agreement to iron out some of the persistent wrinkles in talks between the city and the Monroe County about the convention center. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-03-29 Bloomington mayor John Hamilton gives the city council an update about a new nonprofit that his administration has formed: City of Bloomington Capital Improvement, Inc. (CBCI). The discussion reveals disagreements between the mayor and the council over the proper split for the appointments. Originally the CBCI was conceived of as a governing entity for the Monroe convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-03-20 Bloomington's redevelopment commission (RDC) votes to pay $1.9 million to buy a parcel located at 216 S. College Ave. The purchase completes the city's acquisition of the entire block that formerly housed the Bunger & Robertson law firm. It is intended to be used for the Monroe convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]
• 2023-01-11 Bloomington council overrides a mayoral veto by John Hamilton of a city council resolution supporting a capital improvement board (CIB) as the governance method for a convention center expansion. The override vote was 8-1, with Kate Rosenbarger dissenting. [BSB coverage]

2022

• 2022-12-23 Bloomington mayor John Hamilton vetoes a city council resolution made on Dec. 14, 2022 in support of a capital improvement board (CIB) as the governance method for a convention center expansion. He supports creating a 501(c)3 as an alternative governance structure. [BSB coverage]
• 2022-12-14 In an 8-1 vote, Bloomington council approves a resolution in support of a capital improvement board (CIB) as the governance method for a convention center expansion. Disssenting is Kate Rosenbarger. [BSB coverage]
• 2022-10-07 In a social media post, Bloomington’s office of the mayor appears to have abandoned any further pursuit of a collaboration with Monroe County government on the expansion of the county’s convention center. The statement reads, “Despite hoping to reach an agreement on moving the project forward together, these recent negotiations have concluded without a resolution.” The mayor at the time is John Hamilton. [BSB coverage]
• 2022-08-03 During public commentary at the Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce president Eric Spoonmore tells commissioners that “a viable path forward for convention center expansion” could “involve a transfer of assets from the county to the city.” Deputy mayor Don Griffin, who followed Spoonmore to the public mic, tells commissioners: “We’re ready to talk. I’m ready to listen. And let’s move forward.” [BSB coverage]
• 2022-01-25 The Monroe County council gets a report on food and beverage tax revenues for Monroe County, which will be used to fund a convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]

2021

• 2021-09-21 At a meeting of the Monroe County convention and visitors commission meeting, Mike McAfee, executive director of Visit Bloomington, reports a positive outlook for the return of convention business following the COVID-19 pandemic. [BSB coverage]
• 2021-09-15 In remarks at a Monroe County Council hearing on the convention center budget, council president Eric Spoonmore helps put the expansion project back on the civic radar. “I don’t want us to lose sight of this very important convention center expansion project that we have promised to the community,” Spoonmore says. [BSB coverage]
• 2021-03-09 Monroe County councilors approve a $300,000 appropriation of food and beverage tax revenue to help make debt payments in connection with the county’s convention center. The debt covers renovations and land acquisition that have already been made. It’s not related to the planned future expansion of the center, which was put on hold during the pandemic year of 2020. [BSB coverage]
• 2021-01-21 The seven-member Monroe County food and beverage tax advisory commission (FABTAC) votes to recommend that up to $300,000 of the county’s food and beverage fund balance could be spent on convention center debt and management. [BSB coverage]

2020

• 2020-03-09 During discussion of a 4th Street parking garage replacement, Bloomington Plan Commission express interest in how the new garage will connect to the planned convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]
• 2020-03-02 Thirteen elected officials from the City of Bloomington and Monroe County meet but make little progress about details of creating a capital improvement board (CIB). [BSB coverage]
• 2020-01-13 At a joint meeting, Bloomington and Monroe County officials review a draft interlocal agreement that is intended to supplement statutory requirements for the eventual formation of a capital improvement board (CIB). [BSB coverage]

2019

• 2019-12-18 Monroe County commissioners voteto put off until Jan. 8, 2020, a draft ordinance that would have exercised their power under a state statue to adopt an ordinance establishing a capital improvement board (CIB). Commissioners Julie Thomas says the ordinance is “not quite ready for prime time.” The CIB is the governing entity for overseeing a convention center expansion. [BSB coverage]
• 2019-11-19 Bloomington mayor John Hamilton sends a letter to Monroe County Commissioners asking to revise an MOU that created a 9-member steering committee for the convention center expansion. He wants that committee to continue with the project's final design and construction, rather than to create a separate capital improvement board (CIB). [BSB coverage]
• 2019-10-16 Candidates for the District 3 Bloomington city council seat express support for the convention center expansion during a candidate forum at Bell Trace senior living center. [BSB coverage]
• 2019-09-16 At a joint meeting, elected officials from Bloomington and Monroe County governments get a consultant's analysis of revenue from the countywide food and beverage tax. It’s a one-percent levy that has been collected since February 2018. Buzz Krohn, of O.W. Krohn and Associates, tells the group that the city’s portion of the food and beverage tax would provide roughly $42.7 million of bonding capacity—on the “preferred” option for bonding.That’s abut $1.3 million shy of the $44 million estimate needed for the current project to expand and renovate the convention center. [BSB coverage]

• 2019-09-04 The Monroe County board of commissioners announces Sept. 16, 2019 joint meeting of the board, the county council, the city council, and the mayor, to be held on the topic of the convention center expansion. [copy of announcement from commissioners]
• 2019-08-20 Food and beverage tax report made to advisory commission. From January to July 2019, a total of $1,998,203.56 was collected. Of that amount, $1,778,237.86 went to the city and $219,965.70 went to the county. [copy of the food and beverage tax report]
• 2019-07-24 Monroe County board of commissioners call for meeting to discuss convention expansion to be attended by board of commissioners, county council, city council and mayor. Among the key proposals in the memo is the creation of an capital improvement board (CIB) to handle the convention center expansion. [copy of memo from county commissioners] [BSB coverage]
• 2019-07-17 The three-member Monroe County Board of Commissioners approve a $500,000 deal to purchase a couple of parcels making up the parking lot of the NAPA Auto Parts store at Walnut and 3rd streets. The transaction is expected to factor into a planned expansion of the county’s convention center, located at 3rd Street and College Avenue. [BSB coverage]
• 2019-07-15 City of Bloomington closes on purchase of property north of current convention center [BSB coverage]
• 2019-05-19 Steering Committee votes for northward expansion. [copy of slide deck with expansion options] [link to meeting video recording]
• 2019-04-18 Final day of three-day series of design charrettes for convention center expansion [copy of news release about design charrettes]
• 2019-02-22 The Monroe County Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Commission (FABTAC) votes to recommend approval of up to $4 million in expenditures from the tax for convention center expansion architectural fees. The figure is based on 10 percent of construction costs, which would make for a $40-million project. [copy of FABTAC approval]
• 2019-02-06 City council appropriates $350,000 for design fees. Costs adding up to the $350,000 include: Phase I Programming and Concept Design and Phase I Community engagement ($195,500); Reimbursables ($19,500); Additional services, including topographic and boundary survey, site appraisals, environmental surveys , drone Imaging of the site, interior and exterior mobile scanning of convention center building ($135,000). [copy of appropriation ordinance]
• 2019-01-22 Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission approves recommendation of $4.12 million from county and city food and beverage tax funds. The amount approved from the county's portion is for appraisals, environmental review and surveys not to exceed $60,000 and to be expended only in area bounded by 3rd Street, Madison Avenue, Second Street and Walnut Street. The activities supported from the city's portion include a matching $60,000 for the same appraisals, environmental review and surveys in the same geographic area. In addition, from the city's portion the convention center's architects fees were approved at an amount not to exceed $4 million, corresponding to 10 percent of construction costs, estimated at $30–$40 million. [copy of FABTAC recommendation]
• 2019-01-17 Food and beverage tax report included in city council meeting information packet. For 2018, $2,558,850.56 was collected. Of that amount, $2,247,037.07 went to the city and $311,813.50 went to the county. [copy of food and beverage tax distribution numbers]
• 2019-01-16 Monroe County board of commissioners approves request for $60,000 of funding from food and beverage tax. ??
• 2019-01-16 Bloomington City council approves request for unspecified dollar amount of funding from food and beverage tax. ??

2018

• 2018-12-14 Recommendation by Steering Committee of Convergence/Schmidt Associates as project architect is approved by Mayor John Hamilton, Commissioner Amanda Barge, County Councilmember Cheryl Munson and City Councilmember Chris Sturbaum. [copy of memo from deputy mayor Mick Renneisen]
• 2018-10-12 MOU signed by Mayor John Hamilton [copy of MOU]
• 2018-10-10 MOU signed by Commissioner Amanda Barge [copy of MOU]
• 2018-07-25 MOU signed establishing Steering Committee. Members are: County commissioner (Amanda Barge), Mayor (John Hamilton), County Council member (Cheryl Munson), City Council member (Chris Sturbaum), Board of Commissioners resident appointment (John Whikehart), Board of Commissioners resident appointment (Susie Johnson), Mayor’s resident appointment (Valerie Pena), Mayor’s resident appointment (Adam Thies), Jointly appointed resident (Jim Murphy). [copy of news release]
• 2018-06-25 First meeting of Monroe County's Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission [copy of news release]
• 2018-04-30 Initial appointments confirmed to Monroe County's Food Beverage Advisory Commission.The appointments for the three members of retail establishments subject to the tax are: Michael Cassady, chef and owner of the Uptown Cafe, Helen (Lennie) Busch, co-owner and CFO of One World Enterprises, and Anthony (Tony) Suttile, general manager of the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina. The commission also includes president of the county board of commissioners (Amanda Barge), the city executive (Mayor John Hamilton), a member of the county council (Shelli Yoder) and a member of the city council (Steve Volan). [ copy of news release]

2017

• 2017-12-13 Monroe County council votes to enact 1-percent food and beverage tax. [copy of meeting minutes] Yes: Cobine, Yoder, Munson, McKim. No: Jones, Spoonmore, Hawk.
• 2017-10-18 City council approves resolution (Res 17-38) in support of food and beverage tax. The vote on the city council was 7-0-1, abstention from Isabel Piedmont-Smith and Andy Ruff absent. [copy of resolution]
• 2017-10-04 Support for food and beverage tax requested from city council in press release by Mayor John Hamilton. [copy of press release]

PREHISTORY

• 2012-01-13 Consultant report on feasibility of convention center delivered by HVS Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities Consulting [link]
• 2009-05-13 Governor signs P.L. 176 allowing Monroe County to enact a Food & Beverage tax. The law sets the rate of 1 percent and constrains the use of revenue from the tax to "only to finance, refinance, construct, operate, or maintain a convention center, a conference center, or related tourism or economic development projects." [copy of state law]
• 2002-00-00 Consideration of convention center expansion begins? According to the 2012 from HVS Convention, Sport & Entertainment Facilities Consulting, "Expansion of the BMCCC has been under consideration for at least ten years." [copy of HVS report]