Enforcement of Bloomington's Unified Development Ordinance Begins Februrary 12
If you need to know one acronym to come out of City Hall this year, it’s the UDO. The document has been years in the making. It codifies guidelines into zoning and planning laws for future growth in Bloomington.

After months of discussing the nearly inch-thick document, it should clear the last hurdle Monday night with a final vote from the Bloomington Planning Commission.

The technical name is the Unified Development Ordinance, though it’s commonly known as UDO. For more information, see this Herald-Times article.

Bloomington's AuthorHouse Holding Company Changes Hands
A California-based private equity firm has purchased the holding company for Bloomington-based book publisher AuthorHouse.

AuthorHouse president and CEO Bryan Smith said Friday that Palo Alto-based Bertram Capital has purchased Author Solutions, the holding company for AuthorHouse, from Indiana-based venture capital firm Gazelle Tech Ventures.

AuthorHouse was founded as 1st Books in 1997, and was purchased by Gazelle Tech Ventures in 2002. The company was re-branded as AuthorHouse in 2004.

Based in Bloomington, AuthorHouse employs nearly 200 people in its Bloomington, Indianapolis and UK offices.

Business Expo Booths, Only 16 Left, Call Today!
Exhibitor registration for the 2007 Business Expo started on January 22nd, and a record 104 booths were sold on the first day. This is south-central Indiana's premier business-to-business networking event. Call the SBDC at
812-339-8937 today to reserve your booth and help your business hit a home run by scoring big with your customers. Expo 2007 will be held on Thursday, April 19th. Only 16 booths remaining!

Nominate Indiana's Best and Brightest for the 2007 Mira Awards
TechPoint is now accepting nominations for the 2007 Mira Awards program, presented by BKD. This is your chance to nominate Indiana’s most innovative and successful technology-related firms and to shine the spotlight on some of the state’s rising stars. The TechPoint Mira Awards recognize exceptional contributions to Indiana's technology-based economy. Each nominee, finalist and winner has accelerated the state's economy, focused global attention on Indiana and, most importantly, improved the quality of life for Hoosiers. For more information, or to nominate a company, visit the Mira Awards website.

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!

Rubicon Construction LLC
Rubicon Construction is locally owned and operated out of Bloomington, IN. Formed in 2004 by Michael Eaton and Kevin Powell, Rubicon was founded with the mission to deliver high quality, customer oriented building solutions to the surrounding communities.

Rubicon specializes in custom home building and remodel work, with an emphasis on project management using a family oriented approach. They realize that your home is not only an investment, but should reflect your family's personality and remain functional at the same time. Rubicon Construction's philosophy is to "exceed expectations" with every customer, on every project. They believe that a knowledgeable, detail-oriented approach to building, combined with a genuine commitment to customer service, is a winning combination that sets them apart from their competition. In addition to residential home building and remodeling, Rubicon also focuses on commercial construction.

As a member of the Bloomington community, Rubicon has a genuine interest in smart growth and economic prosperity. Rubicon Construction is a member of several local organizations including the Monroe County Building Association, the Bloomington Board of Realtors, and the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. Rubicon also adheres to the Indiana Quality Assurance builder standards as a commitment to their customers and profession.

To learn more, visit Rubicon Construction's website.

Bloomington's downtown Certified Technology Park is made up of many unique technology development businesses. Each month learn news about these innovative businesses and other initiatives impacting the Park tenants!

IEDC Offers 2-Day Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Workshop
The IEDC will be hosting a 2-day Phase I Proposal Preparation/Cost Proposal/Accounting & Commercialization workshop March 27 & 28 at the Omni Severin Hotel, in Indianapolis.

The focus of this series will be to educate attendees on how to write competitive technical and cost proposals for SBIR/STTR funding. The workshop covers government accounting, The FAR, cost proposal formats, and audits and commercialization projects. Whether you are new to the program, have received your first Phase I, or are a multiple-award winner, the sessions offered in this series will help enhance your participation in the SBIR/STTR Program.

The presenters are Jim & Gail Greenwood. The cost to attend is $25/day or $40 for both; space is limited. Contact Kelly or Amanda or call (812) 384-3283 ext. 3530 for more information.

Burdened by Regulation? Get Help
Do you need help figuring out the multitude of government regulations and requirements your small business must follow? One place to turn is the federal Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, which was created by Congress in 1976 to act as an independent voice to speak for the small business community. The office can provide valuable contacts and facilitate communications between you and various federal agencies. Read more about regulations.

February 2: 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: Terri Brown, Small Business Development Center, 812-339-8937

February 6: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

February 6-7: 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: Feb. 6: 12:00pm - 1:00pm;
Feb. 7: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: SEED Corp., 812-323-7827 (registration required)

February 4: 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: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $25
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

February 13: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

February 20: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

February 20: Life Sciences Lunch Series
What: The Indiana Health Industry Forum and Barnes & Thornburg present a monthly seminar series on critical issues in life sciences.
Where: Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington Campus
Time: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Contact: BEDC, 812-335-7346

February 28: 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)

February 21: Icebreakers :: GET CONNECTED
What: Bloomington's after-hours networking event for entrepreneurs' tech-based businesses.
Topic: Predictive Physiology and Medicine's (PPM) story, Stephen Naylor, CEO
Where: The Irish Lion, 220 W. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: inVenture, 812-335-7356

February 27: Community Chats
What: A weekly series to discuss issues facing Bloomington and the broader region.
Where: Village Deli, 409 East Kirkwood Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 am

February 27: Artists After Hours
What: Bloomington Area Arts Council monthly Artists After Hours
Where: John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut
Time: 5:30 pm

March 2: 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

• United Inventors Association

• Bureau of Economic Analysis

• Free Annual Credit Report

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 at 812-339-8937 for more information.

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