WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton struggled to cut the blue ribbon at the launch party for the Bloomington Trades District on Friday.
The official opening of the 12-acre portion of the Tech Park is meant to act as a place of, “innovation, attraction and job creation for the City of Bloomington.”
Located behind City Hall, the city says the trades district is a dedicated site to develop tech startups and local businesses. The Dimension Mill serves as the anchor for the Bloomington Trades District project. The co-working space and business incubator is housed in a former Showers Brothers Furniture mill. At its height in the 1920s, the Showers Brothers Factory, which is currently City Hall, earned the distinction of the world’s largest furniture factory.
The Dimension Mill is backed by some of the city’s prominent business leaders. Pat East is the co-founder and CEO of Hanapin Marketing. East is also the executive director at the Dimension Mill.
East wants residents to know that the Mill isn’t only aimed at helping the technology industry. Ultimately, he says it’s to bring better-paying jobs to Bloomington. East says, In turn, the money that’s invested into the Mill is meant to help the average Bloomington resident by increasing wages, improving infrastructure, and city development.
A new Trades District Parking Mayor Hamilton Cuts the Ribbon Garage will be built just northwest of the Showers Building and south of 10th Street. The design is scheduled to be presented to the Redevelopment Commission, later this summer.
