CCC Initiative

College and Community Collaboration Initiative

Indiana University is partnering with the City of Bloomington and The Mill on a major economic development project focused on revitalizing Bloomington's Trades District. The project is funded in part by a $16 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.'s College and Community Collaboration initiative and leverages an additional $64.4 million in public and private investments. The overall goal is to stimulate economic growth and opportunity in Bloomington and the Indiana Uplands region by strategically developing downtown Bloomington's central innovation district.

The initiative is designed to address local economic challenges—such as low area wages, expensive housing, and the need for new commercial development—by transforming the Trades District into a vibrant hub for technology and innovation.

Call for Artists

IU is seeking an artist or artist team to install a new mural in the Trades District as part of its placemaking initiatives. 

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Strategic Investment Goals

Attract quality employers and jobs

Build out spaces in The Forge tech center and establish resources and incentives to actively attract and keep top talent in the region.

Key progress indicators

Accelerate area development

Acquire and incentivize adjacent land parcels for rapid development of workforce housing and future employer facilities in an underserved area.

Key progress indicators

Creative placemaking

Create accessible infrastructure and public art in and around the Trades District that engages Bloomington's creative community and cultural character.

Key progress indicators

Oversight and Governance

The CCC Trades District initiative is a strategic partnership between Indiana University, the City of Bloomington, and The Mill. 

The Trades District Advisory Board, composed of wide-ranging community partners, guides and oversees all grant activities. The board supports the vision of the Trades District as a regional hub for innovation and economic development, while leveraging IU Bloomington’s research and talent strengths. 

View the Trades District Advisory Board

Office Space and Development Sites Available