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

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