Collaboration is the hallmark of the business, government, civic and educational sectors in the Bloomington-Normal Metro Region. Our primary area of cooperation and collaboration is economic development and competitiveness. Business, economic development, civic and educational leaders have joined to create BN Advantage, a regional economic development strategy, focused on diversifying and strengthening the region’s economy.
BN Advantage is being led by six organizations – each of which have a vested stake in ensuring that Bloomington-Normal’s economy remains robust, resilient and competitive. These organizations recognize that successful communities work vigorously to shape their own economic destinies:
Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council
McLean County Regional Planning Commission
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau
Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority
Connect Transit
Through these and other organizations, McLean County’s private, public, civic and educational leaders not only have embraced collaboration, but also are sharing resources and are firmly committed to diversify the region’s economic base, promote innovation and competitiveness, and create a unified vision for the future economic development of the Bloomington-Normal Metro Region.
#7 Best Small City for Educated Millennials
—American Institute for Economic Research, 2015
Bloomington-Normal is ranked one of the 50 Best College Towns in America
—Best College Reviews, 2014
McLean County one of the best property tax values in IL.
—SmartAsset, 2014
Normal one of the Fastest Growing cities in Illinois
—NerdWallet, 2014
Bloomington is named one of the Most Exciting places in Illinois
—Movoto Blog, 2014
Bloomington is ranked #4 of the Top 10 Cities on the Rise
—NerdWallet.com, 2013
Normal is the best place to live in all of downstate Illinois, with Bloomington No. 2
—Movoto.com, 2013
One of the 100 Smartest Cities in America
—Venturebeat.com, 2013
Bloomington is ranked #11 of America's Fastest-Growing Cities
—NerdWallet.com, 2013
Top Ranked Small City to Live in 2012
—CNN Money, 2012
#1 in Illinois, #28 in U.S. for "The Best Small Places for Business and Careers"
—Forbes, 2012
#2 city in U.S. for successful singles
—Kiplinger, 2012
#3 city in U.S. to look for a job in healthcare, sales, the trucking industry, or restaurant business
—Beyond.com, 2012
#15 in U.S. for top communities for recent college graduates
—The Atlantic, 2011
#17 "geekiest" city in U.S.
—U.S National Science Foundation, 2011
#22 best small place in which to do business
—Forbes Magazine, 2012
One of the Top 25 Best Places for a Working Retirement
—Forbes Magazine, 2012
State Farm (Bloomington-Normal's biggest employer) was ranked #2 auto insurer; COUNTRY Financial (Bloomington-Normal's third biggest employer) was ranked #6
—J.D. Power and Associates, 2011
One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People (the only community in IL to receive the designation)
—America's Promise Alliance and ING, 2011
In the Bloomington-Normal-McLean County, IL region, the private and public sectors work closely together to create one of the best communities in the U.S. (150+ business and community leaders in interviews September – November, 2014)
