Bloomington, Indiana – Indiana University and the City of Bloomington have officially launched a new partnership aimed at improving the city’s economic competitiveness, quality of life, and long-term community vitality. The initiative, called the Alliance for Community Competitiveness, brings together leaders from the university and the city in a coordinated effort to tackle key challenges facing the region, including retaining young professionals, supporting local businesses, and fostering stronger ties between the campus and surrounding community.
The alliance was chartered by IU Bloomington Chancellor David Reingold and Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson, following discussions during the summer shortly after Reingold assumed his role at the university. In initial meetings, Reingold and Rachael Jones McAfee, IU’s executive director of community engagement, met with Mayor Thomson and Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp to discuss ways the university and city could work together more effectively. They emphasized that the prosperity of the campus and the wider Bloomington area are deeply intertwined.
“We know that the success of our campus and the larger Bloomington community is deeply interwoven,” Reingold said. “To that end, Mayor Thomson and I wanted to develop a shared platform for engagement to bring together stakeholders from Indiana University and the Bloomington region to foster dialogue and collaborate on issues that enhance our community’s vitality and overall quality of life.”
Mayor Thomson echoed this sentiment, highlighting the mutual benefits of collaboration between the university and city. “For Bloomington, this formalized partnership is about strengthening our community in a way that allows people to grow, create and feel connected,” she said. “The city and the university bring different strengths, and when we work together with openness and intention, we elevate what already makes Bloomington special. That shared effort builds the economic momentum that supports local businesses, attracts talent and creates opportunities for every resident.”
The Alliance for Community Competitiveness comprises 19 members drawn from both university and city leadership, community stakeholders, and experts in public affairs and development. It is co-chaired by Amanda Rutherford, associate professor at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Angela Van Rooy, Bloomington’s operations manager for housing and neighborhood development. Members have agreed to serve a one-year term to identify priorities and formulate actionable recommendations.
The initiative officially kicked off on November 5 at IU’s Devault Alumni Center. During the inaugural meeting, participants worked to identify current challenges, uncover opportunities, and establish initial goals. The discussions focused on immediate areas where the alliance could exert influence, as well as long-term strategies for sustainable community and economic growth.
“We are working to identify barriers and opportunities that can be tackled quickly as we collaborate to develop additional recommendations over the coming year,” Rutherford said. “We are thinking collaboratively about where we have the power and the leverage to make progress now as well as tomorrow.”
Rutherford emphasized that the alliance aims to create a roadmap for actionable steps, including the identification of specific resources needed to achieve the goals. The group hopes to have priorities—and potentially a few early recommendations—established by early 2026. A mid-year progress report is expected by July 1, 2026, and a full report of recommendations is planned by the end of 2026.
Looking ahead, the alliance plans to hold monthly meetings to maintain momentum and monitor progress. The next session is scheduled for December 2 in the Council Chambers of Bloomington City Hall.
By fostering open dialogue and coordinated action between Indiana University and city leadership, the Alliance for Community Competitiveness seeks to strengthen Bloomington as a place where residents can thrive, local businesses can grow, and the region can attract and retain the next generation of talented professionals. With both academic and civic leaders invested in the process, the city hopes to chart a course toward sustained economic vitality and a higher quality of life for all community members.
The launch of the Alliance for Community Competitiveness marks a significant step in formalizing collaboration between IU Bloomington and the City of Bloomington, creating a platform for shared decision-making and community-driven solutions. By combining the resources, expertise, and perspectives of both institutions, the initiative represents a forward-looking effort to ensure that Bloomington remains a vibrant, connected, and prosperous city for years to come.
