By the numbers
Here are some key economic outlook numbers for the Bloomington area.
$153 million: Projected 2012 growth in economic output within the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area (Monroe, Greene and Owen counties), which would put the total economic output of the region above $7 billion this year.
$106 million: Projected growth in total wages in the region this year.
425,241: Square feet of industrial space leased or sold last year in Monroe County.
290,685: Square feet of office and training space built and occupied at Westgate Crane since 2007.
13,422: Projected growth in Monroe County population by 2020.
1,019: Additional new hires expected by the region’s life sciences companies in the next two years.
96%: Occupancy rate of apartments in Bloomington.
Presenters didn’t have to look hard to find positive economic news at Wednesday’s second annual State of the Bloomington Regional Economy.
They saw good news all around in vacancy rates, housing sales, job projections and total economic output for the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Monroe, Greene and Owen counties.
“Let’s stop talking about the recession,” said Mark Brown, senior vice president for finance and research with the Indiana Association of Realtors, who was one of four presenters at the event. “Let’s start talking about growth again.”
The picture wasn’t all rosy, but there were positives aplenty to accentuate at the event hosted by the Bloomington Economic Development Corp.
© 2024 HeraldTimesOnline, Bloomington, IN