Bloomington, Indiana – Most people rarely think about the servers behind city services. Yet those systems help keep police and fire operations running, process online payments, and support the digital tools residents use every day. Bloomington has now earned statewide recognition for finding a more secure way to protect that technology.
Instead of building an expensive new facility, the city turned to a familiar neighbor. A partnership with Indiana University has moved Bloomington’s primary computing infrastructure into one of the university’s most protected buildings.
The City of Bloomington received the 2026 Best of Indiana Award for Best Application Serving an Organization’s Business Needs – Local during the Indiana Digital Government Summit on October 6. The recognition follows years of cooperation between municipal technology employees and university officials.
Led by Bloomington’s Information & Technology Services Department, the project brought several previously separated server clusters into one centralized location.
The physical move took place in August 2026, when the city transferred its main computing infrastructure into a dedicated cabinet inside the Indiana University Data Center.
The change affects more than 300 applications supporting city government. These include online payment services, permitting tools, mapping systems, and programs employees use to handle requests.
The city’s technology team also oversees hundreds of servers, including equipment supporting Bloomington Police, Fire, and Utilities around the clock.
Under the agreement, Bloomington continues to own and manage its servers, hardware, systems, and data. The city also maintains responsibility for cybersecurity and access controls, while IU supplies the building, supporting infrastructure, and high-speed connectivity.
There is another important benefit. Equipment that previously served as the city’s main infrastructure can now support disaster recovery operations, providing additional protection if primary systems encounter problems.
The IU Data Center offers capabilities that would require considerable municipal investment to duplicate.
Built with reinforced concrete, the facility is designed to withstand EF5 tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods. Its emergency power system includes two flywheels and three diesel generators, while specialized cooling equipment helps protect the technology inside.
Read also: Bloomington awards nearly $55,000 to 31 local artists to help turn creative projects into careers
The partnership developed through years of discussions between city technology staff and Indiana University Information Technology Services leaders. Existing fiber connections and established working relationships helped make the arrangement possible.
“That combination of geographic proximity, existing network connections, and trust built over years made the colocation project at the IU Datacenter possible,” said Rick Dietz, Bloomington’s ITS Director.
The project team included Dietz, Mike Crump, Seth Tierney, Rob Cronk, and Stephen Hudson. Dietz, Crump, Tierney, and Hudson accepted the award for Bloomington, while Mark Spencer and Jamie Mobley represented Indiana University.
Beyond the award, the arrangement gives Bloomington a stronger foundation for keeping essential government technology available, with improved security, backup capabilities, and long-term operational reliability.
