Local Technology Company Receives
$1.7 Million State Grant
Bloomington-based technology company Information in Place, Inc. has been awarded $1.7 million in grants from the 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. The grant is one of eight given statewide. With this grant, Information in Place will be expanding its operations in the Bloomington Certified Technology Park by hiring additional staff and expanding into additional office space, both of which will enable them to further develop virtual reality software for a variety of "in field" product service and monitoring applications.

South-Central IN Receives $1.8 Million Aimed at Creating New Jobs in Emerging Industries, Shortage Occupations
South-Central Indiana has been awarded a grant from the state for $1,853,800 to help create new jobs in the region’s bio-manufacturing, health care and hospitality industries, according to Ron Stiver, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The grant is part of Governor Daniels administration’s Strategic Skills Initiative, a workforce development program introduced last year.

The region will use $1,252,700 of the grant to create the Indiana Biomanufacturing and Training Institute in Monroe County to support the growth of biotech and biomanufacturing jobs in the region. The Monroe County Richland Tax Increment Finance District has committed up to $5 million to build the facility. The institute will provide advanced training for incumbent workers in the region’s life science firms to upgrade their skills. It will also provide training for entry-level and dislocated workers. The institute will house laboratory space, a science resource center and science incubator. More than 1,400 Hoosiers will be trained at the center, and 599 will be placed or promoted into shortage occupations.

Nominations Sought for 2006
Fuse Business Innovation Awards
inVenture and the SBDC's Fuse Annual Awards Luncheon spotlights the small business community's innovation, creativity, energy, and growth. We focus on the entrepreneurs in our community who are doing things differently and making an impact. Fuse Business Innovation Awards recognize the businesses that are “Brands To Watch.” Be a part of this exciting event by nominating those businesses that you feel have made a difference. Download a PDF nomination form. For additional information, contact Terri Brown at 812-335-7356.

New IU Student Spending Habits Survey Now Available
The results of a joint Small Business Development Center (SBDC)/Indiana University survey that analyzed IU students' local spending and shopping habits is now available to local businesses. This is the second such survey conducted.

The recently completed survey tracking Indiana University students' local spending and shopping habits was conducted earlier this year by 70 students enrolled in two marketing-research classes in the Kelley School of Business who teamed up with the SBDC. Download the survey results (pdf) to learn more about this critical market for Bloomington business. For additional information, contact Brian Kleber at 812-339-8937.

South Central Indiana's area economy is made up of many unique small businesses which often are overlooked. Each month learn about a local small business that you might have not known about!

Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts
Bloomington artist Jaime Sweany opened downtown’s Wandering Turtle Art Gallery & Gifts on February 3, 2003. She previously co-owned Wild Birds Unlimited for nearly eight years. After selling the franchise she decided to blend her love for nature and art by opening a gallery featuring a selection of nature-oriented works of art, as well as a variety of other subject matter, styles and media.

Wandering Turtle was awarded “Best Art Gallery” by the Bloomington Convention & Visitor’s Bureau in 2004. It offers exhibition space to over 70 select local & regional artists, as well as gifts, music, and greeting cards, with an emphasis on locally made products and Fair Trade international items. The multi-media artwork exhibited includes paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and artist's prints.

Jaime’s vision for her gallery includes making art an accessible and enjoyable experience for her customers by providing an extremely comfortable and casual atmosphere. She has combined her passion for the visual arts with her life-long love of music by offering a selection of local & world music at the gallery. She is thrilled that Bloomington hosts the annual Lotus World Music festival and plans a Día de Los Muertos (Mexican Day of the Dead) Altar exhibit in October in conjunction with this year’s Lotus event.

Wandering Turtle is one of nine galleries participating in the popular Downtown GalleryWalks. Four times per year these galleries coordinate art opening receptions which coincide with downtown’s First Friday initiative. Festivities include live music, food, and beverages. Many restaurants and merchants have joined in to make the evenings even more exciting by offering their own special promotions as well.

The next GalleryWalk is Friday, July 7th and Wandering Turtle is featuring collage art by Jeremy Bazur. This special exhibit is entitled “Paper Pallette: the evolution of a bad magazine,” and the opening reception is from 4:30 – 7:30. Special music will be provided by Ransom Haile & Mark Kunoff. To learn more, visit Wandering Turtle's website.

How to Hire a Strong Sales Force
Companies can live and die by the quality of their sales force. Hire the best. Look for people with these characteristics: highly motivated by money, eager to learn, self-confident, persistent, competitive, able to cope with rejection, and good listeners. Your sales professionals should also have detailed knowledge of your products, competitors' products, and the market in which those products are sold. Hold regular training sessions and encourage your team to attend outside training classes and seminars. Learn more about sales management.

July 7: New Economy, New Rules Seminar
What: Series of video conference presentations from industry leaders geared towards the information technology industry.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 am
Contact: Marilyn Skirvin, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, 812-335-7346

July 12: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton St., Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

July 18: Tech Tuesday
What: A series of video conference presentations with a networking and educational component for Bloomington technology businesses.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 am
Contact: Terri Brown, inVenture, 812-335-7356

July 18-August 16: Small Business Planning Course Orientation Sessions
What: Thinking of starting a business? Attend an orientation session to learn about the SEED Corp. Feasibility and Business Planning Course. Upon completion of the course, you may qualify for up to $35,000 in loans. You need only attend one orientation session below to learn about the course.

Where: SEED Corp., 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
When: July 18 or 25: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
July 19 or 25: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: SEED Corp., 812-323-7827 (registration required)

July 20: Business After Hours
What: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce monthly Business After Hours
Where: American Legion, 1800 W 3rd St.
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Sponsored by: American Legion

July 25: Artists After Hours
What: Bloomington Area Arts Council monthly Artists After Hours
Where: John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut
Time: 5:30 pm

July 26: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton St., Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

July 29 - August 1: Association of Defense Communities 2006 Annual Conference
What: National gathering bringing together nearly 1,000 representatives from defense communities, DoD, and the private sector for four days of learning and networking.
Where: Indianapolis
Cost: $695-945
Registration: Online at www.defensecommunities.org

August 4: New Economy, New Rules Seminar
What: Series of video conference presentations from industry leaders geared towards the information technology industry.
Where: inVenture, 501 N. Morton St., inVenture Conference Room
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 am
Contact: Marilyn Skirvin, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, 812-335-7346

Business Check-up (BizBench)
Wonder how your business compares to others in your industry? There are a wide range of factors that go into the valuation process – from the company’s book value to a host of tangible and intangible elements. In general, the value of the business will rely on an analysis of the company’s cash flow. Its ability to generate consistent profits will ultimately determine its worth in the marketplace.

Contact the SBDC office 812-339-8937 to find out how you can improve your business today!

A Disaster Planning Toolkit for the Small to Mid-Sized Business Owner
The Institute for Business and Home Safety has a Small Business Toolkit on disaster preparedness. The Toolkit is available to individual businesses free.

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