Bloomington Convention Center (formerly Monroe Convention Center)

The Monroe 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—Bloomington and Monroe County—in their efforts to expand the building footprint and to renovate the existing facility.

In the timeline below, the half decade since fall of 2019 needs to be filled in.

Timeline

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]
2023-12-13 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]
2022-12-23 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]
2021-09-21 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]
2020-03-09 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]
2019-12-18 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]
2019-07-24 Monroe County commissioners distribute a memo stating their support of creating a capital improvement board to handle the ownership, control and management of an expanded convention center in downtown Bloomington [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]
2019-02-22 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. [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]
2019-07-17 County board of commissioners approve purchase of NAPA parking lot land [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]
2019-02-06 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. ??
2018-12-14 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]
2017-12-13 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]
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]