Bloomington's business community got its say on October 7. The city and the Bloomington Port Authority held the 2026 Bloomington Business Forum from 8 to 10 a.m. that Wednesday in the City Council Chambers at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road. This year's theme was "Building a Resilient Economy: Investing in Bloomington Businesses." Organizers billed the input gathered in the room as a guide for the city's economic development planning over the next 20 years.
The forum's planned agenda included a regional economic trends presentation from GreaterMSP and a session on how local businesses can win contracts with government and private buyers. It also featured city programs such as the Small Business Assistance Grant and the Hatch Bloomington pitch competition.
This was the second annual forum. The city pitched it to business leaders, entrepreneurs and community partners as a chance to meet city leaders, elected officials and each other. Admission was free, space was limited, and registration ran from July 28 to September 25 through Eventbrite.
The 20-year conversation comes on top of an existing plan. In February 2025 the city adopted its 2025–2030 Economic Development Strategic Plan, which has 8 objectives. They range from traded sectors and small business to talent attraction, real estate and infrastructure, and marketing and events.
The Port Authority was created in the 1980s to redevelop the old Metropolitan Stadium site into the Mall of America, then spent years supporting hotels, housing and high-tech manufacturing in the South Loop. In 2022 and 2023 it expanded citywide and added small business assistance. Today its work covers real estate and development and business assistance.
The Hatch program is a good example of how that work has changed. When it started in 2024, Hatch offered a single $100,000 prize for a new brick-and-mortar business. This year the city renamed it Hatch Bloomington Loves Local and shifted it toward businesses that are already open. After a live pitch event on July 29, the Port Authority added $24,000 in Business Assistance Funds and split $124,000 among 5 businesses. 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 Port Authority takes calls at 952-563-8873 or email at [email protected]. The city's Business Assistance office is at 952-563-4706 or [email protected].
