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CEO John Fernandez announces Amplify Bloomington launch and updates Forge, mill expansion and hotel plans
Summary
John Fernandez, CEO of Amplify Bloomington (DBA of Dimension Mill, Inc.), told the Monroe County Redevelopment Commission the new civic platform has launched and provided updates: Forge occupancy is about 86%, the Forge will repay a $100,000 city reserve, the mill expansion will add roughly 36 workstations and a hotel schematic increased to 171 rooms.
John Fernandez, chief executive of Amplify Bloomington, opened his presentation at the March 2, 2026 Monroe County Redevelopment Commission meeting by announcing the launch of Amplify Bloomington, a DBA of Dimension Mill, Inc., and outlining a strategic plan to connect university research, entrepreneurship and cultural assets to spur local economic growth.
"Amplify Bloomington is a DBA. . . we're just going to mark it as Amplify Bloomington," Fernandez said, adding that the change does not alter contractual relationships with the commission. He described three pillars of the initiative: entrepreneurship growth, targeted business attraction including the trades district, and support for startups and founders.
Fernandez gave specific operational updates. He said the Forge is approximately 86% occupied and that about 1,800 square feet remains available. He noted Prometheus as the most recent lease and said the tenant's schematic drawings should be finished this week with a build-out expected to start at the end of March, pending permitting. "We're paying back the redevelopment commission's the city's $100,000 operating fund reserve that you all approved," Fernandez said, explaining that early operating expenses had used roughly $54,000 of that reserve including about $20,000 to repair vandalized windows.
On facilities, Fernandez said construction began on mill remodeling that will add about 36 workstations and three private suites and expand the lower-level meeting space; the work is expected to finish by the end of June. He said the trades district continues to attract partners including Indiana University and Cook Medical Group.
Fernandez also described the hotel proposal attached to the Summit District: schematics have evolved from a 150-room design to one that accommodates 171 rooms. He said the developers hope to break ground in early spring or early summer, pending final bids and approvals.
Commissioners asked logistical questions about slide materials and local openings. Fernandez said he would provide a corrected PDF of his slides for inclusion in the official meeting packet.
In discussion following the presentation, Fernandez and commissioners turned to governance and regional concerns. Fernandez said the Dimension Mill nonprofit is operating under the Amplify Bloomington brand and that governance changes widened representation on the executive committee to include city and institutional partners. He warned of two structural challenges for Bloomington: consecutive annual population losses concentrated in the 20-to-50 age bracket and stagnant wages, which he said the Amplify strategy aims to address by attracting and retaining talent.
The commission received the presentation and had no formal action on the Amplify report. Meeting materials, including the corrected slides, were requested for the official record.
