The City of Bloomington has given out the money from its 2026 Hatch Bloomington Loves Local competition, and the pot ended up bigger than promised. 5 local businesses split $124,000: Ado's Auto Body Collision and Repair Center and Afghan Darbar got $40,000 each, Zeke's Place got $20,000, and Bloomington Garden Center and Landscape Co. and Bloomington Brewery & Taproom (Nine Mile Brewing) got $12,000 each.
The program started with $100,000. After the July 29 pitch event, the city said, judges found the finalists strong enough to recommend more funding. The Bloomington Port Authority then added $24,000 from its 2026 Business Assistance Funds. "The quality of this year's applicants speaks to the strength of Bloomington's small business community," Mayor Tim Busse said.
The winners cover collision repair, landscaping, international food, a community gathering spot and craft beer. In a September memo, Busse asked residents to keep shopping locally. "When we support local businesses, we're supporting the people who make Bloomington a remarkable and enduring place where people want to be," he said.
How we got here: Earlier Hatch Bloomington contests funded new brick-and-mortar businesses. In April the city announced that the 2026 edition would back businesses already operating here. Up to 5 would share $100,000 to close gaps in capital spending, stabilize or expand operations, and keep or add staff. To apply, a business needed a brick-and-mortar location in Bloomington and 50 or fewer full-time employees. Judges weighed financial need and how each business planned to use the money. Applications opened June 10.
On July 23 the city named 10 finalists. Besides the 5 eventual winners, the list included Bloomington Mow and Snow, Rise Up Nutrition, Shifa Metro Clinic, TBS Mart International Foods and The Great Steak. All 10 pitched their funding requests at Bloomington Civic Plaza on July 29 to a panel of local business leaders and community representatives. At the time, Busse said the response to the program "demonstrates the strength and resilience of Bloomington's small business community."
The city recognized the winners at the September 14 City Council meeting. The full pitch event is still on the city's YouTube channel if you want to watch your neighbors make their case. For questions about the program, the program page lists Sean Lundy at [email protected] or 952-563-4979.
