West Bloomington Revitalization Project
The first meeting of the West Bloomington Task Force convened in February 2008 with more than 20 people in attendance, including participants from the City of Bloomington, the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area, State Farm Bank, several area companies, non-profit organizations and social service agencies, and the GAP and Olde Towne neighborhood associations. We made commitments to this neighborhood revitalization effort, which will serve as a model of change for other neighborhoods in the Bloomington-Normal area, and to empower our neighbors and fellow community members during this exciting process.
Our responsibilities on the Task Force included providing strategic guidance to the project, representing community desires, formulating strategies, serving as ambassadors to the community at-large, prioritizing improvement ideas, and acting as stewards of the planning process and to the final plan recommendations. At that first meeting we described how we envisioned our community in 10 years, using words like vibrant, empowered, unique, diverse, friendly and safe to describe our hopes and dreams for the future. At subsequent Task Force meetings we added new members, including more local residents, representatives from educational institutions and regional governmental agencies.
We created and implemented a community survey to begin accumulating information on the key issues in the minds of local residents. Using this information allowed us to identify certain themes on which to focus our attention: economic development, safety and housing, and youth and education.
Contact the WBRP
West Bloomington Revitalization Project
800 W. Washington St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: 309 829 1200
Email: westbloomington@gmail.com
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.