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Can Bloomington Become the Midwest's Next Startup Hub? | John Fernandez, Amplify Bloomington
On today's show I sat down with John Fernandez, CEO of Amplify Bloomington and former Bloomington mayor and Obama administration economic development leader. Fernandez explains how the former Showers Brothers Furniture Factory site became an innovation hub through public-private partnerships, infrastructure investment, and entrepreneur-driven community building, expanding from The Mill to The Forge and nearby private initiatives like The Kiln. We discuss why homegrown companies like Cook Group matter, the need for economic diversification, and Bloomington's challenges and strengths in talent retention and storytelling. He highlights founder support, peer groups, local "sleeper" companies, and the Flywheel Fund's early-stage investing. Amplify's goals include scaling 10 firms from $1M to $10M revenue by 2031 and retaining more IU graduates in Bloomington. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - How a Furniture Factory Site Evolved to a Community Hub - Amplify Bloomington's Five-Year Vision - Bloomington's "Sleeper" Companies Thank you to our partners: Kelley School of Business Berne Apparel Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Indiana Startup Vibe 01:40 Guest Introduction: John Fernandez, Amplify Bloomington 02:27 Inside The Mill District 05:10 From Warehouses to Hub 07:09 Revitalization Playbook 08:41 Cook Group Impact 11:07 Why Entrepreneurs Matter 12:37 Selling Bloomington Life 14:20 John's Kokomo Origins 18:24 Politics and Public Service 19:46 Keeping Talent Local 24:31 Midwest Culture and Grit 27:31 Bloomington Startup Stars 31:04 Founder Challenges Today 31:35 Founder Talent And Integration 31:52 Peer Groups And Community 32:35 No Net Founder Stories 33:57 Why Innovation Helps Workers 36:53 Spillover Economics And Events 39:10 Building An Ecosystem 42:09 Five-Year Vision And Goals 44:46 Pride And IU Alumni Network 47:39 Keeping Graduates In Indiana 49:53 Why Indiana Home 50:26 Obama Call And Clearance 53:42 Bloomington First Impression 54:16 Local Government Advice 55:54 Indiana Lightning Round 57:51 IU Championship Memories 59:01 Wrap Up Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.
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