The success of the Bloomington economy in the face of a struggling national economic situation must be partially, at least, attributed to the fact that the area enjoyed a population increase. Whether the population increase was the result of good economic conditions or that the population increase caused the good economic conditions is an interesting question but it is likely that there was a correlation.

For a community the size of Bloomington the success and aggressiveness of its privately funded Economic Development Council is a wonderful blessing. The Council has worked tirelessly to promote the area and these efforts must be at least partially credited with allowing the area to prosper in difficult times.

The City of Bloomington still relies upon some supply side economic policies in that it uses federal aid to fund a number of its programs but for the most part the City has seemingly made a conscientious decision to build its local economy through the prudent combination of building existing businesses and attracting new businesses that blend well with these existing businesses. A review of the list of business persons involved in the EDC and the broad range of professions and businesses involved in the Council is indicative of the broad-based support enjoyed by the EDC.

When, and if, the national economy begins to improve Bloomington, Illinois is well...

Through a well organized economic development program Bloomington has been able to withstand what has been a down period throughout most of the rest of the Midwest and certainly what has been an extremely poor economic picture in the State of Illinois.
Works Cited

City of Bloomington . "Parks and Recreation ." 2009. City of Bloomington. 7 May 2011 .

City of Bloomington. "Community Development." 6 May 2011. City of Bloomington . 7 May 2011 .

City-Data.com. Bloomington, Illinois. 2009. 8 May 2011 .

Department of Housing and Urband Development. Analysis of the Bloomington-Normal, Illinois Housing Market. Economic Research. Washington, D.C.: Department of Housing and Urband Development, 2004.

Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area. 2011-2015 Proposed Strategic Plan. Economic Plan. Bloomington, IL: EDC, 2011.

-- . EDC. 2007. 7 May 2011 .

-- . Navigationg a New Direction. 2007. 7 May 2011 .

Moody's . Bloomington Economic Outlook. 2011. 7 May 2011 .

Proximity. Resources to create and apply insight. 2011. 7 May 2011 .

U.S. Department of Labor. Economy at a Glance. 2011 April. 8 May 2011 .

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