Mayor splits economic development job into 2 separate positions

On May 2, the Bloomington City Council voted 8-1 in favor of adding new jobs focused on different areas of economic development. Mayoral Republican candidate David Sabbagh questioned the city spending extra taxpayer money on additional positions he felt could be filled by local organizations. \nThe assistant director of economic development post was split up to allow more time and attention on specific facets of the community. On May 10, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced his appointments for the city’s two new positions. Adam Wason will serve as the City of Bloomington’s assistant director of economic development for small business and sustainable development, and Miah Michaelsen will work as the assistant director of economic development for the arts.\n“By splitting the job in two positions, we will allow for more focus on small businesses and arts development,” Kruzan said May 9 . \nWason said his job would be that of a liaison between small businesses and City Hall. He said he will sit down with local groups and key stakeholders to discuss their concerns and relay them to City Hall so plans may be drawn up for improvement. \nWason grew up in Princeton, Ill., and first arrived in Bloomington to attend IU. He received a Bachelor of Science in public affairs and two graduate program master’s certificates in public administration and non-profit management from the University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He currently works for the city utilities department as a public affairs specialist. \nWason said he always had an interest in working at the city level and sees his new position as a great opportunity to make a positive mark on the community. He said his first goal will be getting in touch with local business owners so he can better understand their individual obstacles. \nWason would not comment on the statements put forth by Councilman Sabbagh and said he only wishes to focus on his job at hand.\n“There is not one issue at hand; all problems are unique,” Wason said. “First and foremost I will talk to small-business owners and the community to learn what kind of help they need.”\nWason said the University has a huge impact on how well these small businesses do.\n“Students are the core support for these small businesses and have the biggest influence on sustainability,” Wason said. \nHe said Bloomington is unique in that it has a lot of local-based businesses downtown, which he attributes to the culture of the community. \nMichaelsen currently works as the executive director for the Bloomington Area Arts Council. She handles the group’s programming, cultural initiatives and community partnerships. Michaelsen said her experience at the BAAC would help her understand the issues and the players involved in the local art community. She said this is a great chance for the arts in the city to grow and provide a healthy financial return. \n“There are not problems – rather, opportunities to bring different groups together,” Michaelsen said. “This administration looks on the art scene as a huge tool for economic development.” \nMichaelsen is a native of Little Rock, Ark., and earned her Bachelor of Arts with distinction in theatre arts from Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. She was a 2006 graduate of the Leadership Bloomington program and is a member of IU’s arts administration degree program advisory council and is an advisory board member of the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. \nMichaelsen said she applauded Mayor Kruzan for recognizing the overwhelming issues that surround economic development in the city and the need for persons with experience in individual aspects of Bloomington’s economy. \n“This position brings specific expertise in art,” she said. “It was wise of Mayor Kruzan to realize the different skill sets that the job called for – all with a goal of developing the community.” \nMichaelsen said she would work hand-in-hand with the University in her new job. She said she looks at IU to produce much of the art and audiences that are brought into the community. \n“The University is the key reason we have a vibrant arts community,” she said. “When growing arts in this community, there is a logical partnership with the University.” \nOne of the biggest plans on the horizon, Michaelsen said, is the creation of Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District. She said somewhat fluid borders would define the district in and around the city’s downtown. The area would have new and current businesses that focus on art, additional studios and living space for artists, new restaurants, outdoor ampitheaters and a focus on visual art. She said the main goal would be the opportunity for artists living in the city.\nAlthough the date is not official, Wason said he expected to be in his office in City Hall to start his new position by early June.