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Property taxes in Indiana are administered at the local level. More than 99 percent of the revenue generated by property taxes remains in the community in which they are collected. In Bloomington and Monroe County, you'll find some of the lowest property taxes in the United States. Locate your business here and reap the benefits of award-winning public services and a business friendly tax structure.
Property Taxes
Real and personal property tax is asessed at market value. Tax rates and exemptions vary among local jurisdictions, but are effectively capped at 3% for business property pursuant to state law.
| Township |
Personal/Real Property Net Rate |
|---|---|
| Bean Blossom | 1.6685% |
| Stinesville | 1.7597% |
| Benton | 1.1679% |
| Bloomington | 1.4208% |
| Bloomington City | 1.9395% |
| Clear Creek | 1.3016% |
| Indian Creek | 1.2017% |
| Perry | 1.2695% |
| Perry City | 1.9390% |
| Polk Township | 1.3944% |
| Richland | 1.6680% |
| Richland City | 2.3710% |
| Ellettsville | 2.4504% |
| Salt Creek | 1.3509% |
| Van Buren | 1.3719% |
| Van Buren City | 1.9766% |
| Washington | 1.1583% |
| Ellettsville/Bean Blossom | 2.4539% |
Individual Income Taxes
City of Bloomington: NA
Monroe County: 1.04 percent
State of Indiana: 3.4 percent
Corporate Adjusted Gross Income Tax
Indiana's Corporate Adjusted Gross Income Tax is calculated at a flat percentage of the company's adjusted gross income attributable to the company's Indiana sales. The applied Corporate Income Tax rate beginning July 1, 2012 is 8.0% and will be reduced to 6.5% by 2015 through 0.5% per year reductions.
Sales and Use Tax
Indiana's Sales and Use Tax is calculated at a rate of 7%.
Gross Receipts and Inventory Tax
Indiana has no gross receipts tax and no inventory tax.
Establishing a life in Bloomington is as easy as living it. Take a step away from the stress of escalating housing costs and discover a variety of affordable housing options in Bloomington. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned homeowner, Bloomington's strong and active housing market has homes for people of nearly all income levels.
Come home to Bloomington! Visit the following resources for assistance with your move to Bloomington:
Homefinder.org — from the Bloomington Board of Realtors is the most complete source for real estate listings for Bloomington, Monroe County, Owen County, and South Central Indiana. The Homefinder MLS is your online guide for buying, selling, investing in real estate, or relocating to Bloomington, Indiana.
- Real Estate Finder, www.realtor.com
- Apartment Guide, www.apartmentguide.com
- Relocation Wizard, www.homefair.com/wizard
- Salary Calculator, www.monstermoving.com/Relosmart
To learn more about housing and neighborhoods within the City of Bloomington, visit the City's Housing & Neighborhoods portal.
Get the support of private and public partnerships that work together with leaders in government, community and business to secure local, state and federal assistance to help you succeed in Bloomington.
Grow your business in Bloomington with:
To learn about incentives available for your project, please contact the BEDC.
Tax Credits
Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE): a refundable tax credit program that rewards companies creating jobs and contributing to the growth of Indiana's economy. EDGE credits are calculated as a percentage of payroll tax withholding for net new Indiana jobs. EDGE credits may be awarded for a period of up to 10 years. Learn more
Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit (HBI): This program encourages capital investment in Indiana by providing a credit against a company's Indiana tax liability. The credit amount is based on a company's qualified capital investment with the final credit amount determined by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, based on an analysis of the economic benefits of the proposed investment. Learn more
Community Revitalization Tax Credit: This program encourages capital investment and jobs creation within a Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CRED). The credit toward a taxpayer's state and local income tax liability and is 25 percent of the qualified investment made by the taxpayer within the CRED. The City of Bloomington operates two of these districts, one in the downtown area and the other in a growing employment center.
Headquarters Relocation Tax Credit: When a business relocates its corporate headquarters (defined as the location of the principal office of the principal executives) to Indiana, it is entitled to a credit against its state tax liability equal to half of the costs incurred in relocating the headquarters. A company must have worldwide annual revenue of at least $100 million to qualify. Learn more
Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit: The Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit was established to improve access to capital to fast-growing Indiana companies by providing individual and corporate investors an additional incentive to invest in early stage firms. Investors who provide qualified debt or equity capital to Indiana companies receive a credit against their Indiana income tax liability. Learn more
Industrial Recovery Tax Credit: The Industrial Recovery tax credit provides an incentive for companies to invest in facilities requiring significant rehabilitation or remodeling expense. After a building has been designated as an industrial recovery site, companies may be eligible for a tax credit calculated as a percentage of qualified rehabilitation expense. Learn more
Workforce Training
Skills Enhancement Fund: The Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF) provides financial assistance to businesses committed to training their workforce. Trainees must be Indiana residents. SEF reimburses eligible training expenses over a two-year term. Companies may reapply for additional SEF funds after their initial two-year term. Companies can receive reimbursement ? up to $200,000 ? for retraining existing workers. Supplemental grant awards may be available for training new employees. Learn more
Technology Enhancement Certification for Hoosiers (TECH): The Technology Enhancement Certification for Hoosiers (TECH) Fund is a reimbursement grant program designed to help companies meet the demands of the new IT economy by increasing the number of certified information technology workers in Indiana. Learn more
Training Acceleration Grant (TAG): TAG provides financial assistance to companies and organizations committed to expanding the skills of their existing workforce through training that result in a transferable and industry-recognized credential. The TAG may be awarded in amounts up to $200,000 for terms of two years or less. Learn more
Grants
21st Century Research and Technology Fund: The Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund was created to stimulate the process of diversifying the State's economy by developing and commercializing advanced technologies in Indiana. Learn more
Industrial Development Grant Fund: This grant provides money to local governments for off-site infrastructure projects associated with an expansion of an existing Indiana company or the location of a new facility in Indiana. State funding through the IDGF program must be matched by a combination of local government and company financial support. Learn more
Small Business Innovation Research Initiative: The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and its sister program, the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR), are highly competitive and encourage small businesses to explore their technological potential. SBIR/STTR funding is available from 11 participating agencies throughout the United States and focuses on various technological areas. Learn more
Local Assistance
Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CRED): The CRED allows the City of Bloomington to capture increased sales and income tax dollars, generated by new investment within the CRED, to use for economic development purposes. These revenues have been used for infrastructure improvements or to reimburse capital investments made by businesses developing within the CRED. The City of Bloomington operates two of these districts, one in the downtown area and the other in a growing employment center.
Tax Abatement
The City of Bloomington and Monroe County have elected to provide tax abatement for both new and existing companies that are creating jobs, retaining jobs and making a new investment in real and/or personal property. Under state law, local governments have the option of granting tax abatement for up to 10 years. On average, tax abatement can provide nearly 50 percent savings from property taxes over the life of the abatement.
Incentives within the Urban Enterprise Zone: View an enterprise zone map
Tax Increment Financing: Monroe County is home to some of the most successful Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts in Indiana. The City of Bloomington and Monroe County have invested millions on infrastructure improvements to help companies grow and create jobs. Exciting opportunities are on the horizon of Monroe County's newest TIF located at the corner of Highway 37 and Highway 46.
Loans
Tax-exempt Bonds: These debt instruments, often called Private Activity Bonds, Industrial Revenue Bonds or Industrial Development Bonds, are issued by state or local governmental entities for the benefit of a private company, usually manufacturers. Interest on the bonds is generally exempt from federal income taxes for investors, which typically results in lower long-term interest rates to the borrower. Learn more
Loan Guaranty Program: Indiana's economic development agency, the IEDC, can provide a loan guaranty to a lender for the benefit of a high-growth/high-skilled company, manufacturer, rural development project, value-added agricultural enterprise or another type of business that creates or retains a significant number of Hoosier jobs. Learn more
Capital Access Program: The Capital Access Program (CAP) is a small business credit enhancement program that creates a specific cash reserve fund for the lender to use as additional collateral for loans enrolled in the Program. CAP allows lenders to consider loans that might not meet conventional lending requirements. Learn more
Foreign Trade Zone
The FTZ program helps American companies improve their competitive position versus their counterparts abroad. The FTZ program allows U.S.-based companies to defer, reduce or even eliminate Customs duties on products admitted to the zone. Learn More
Working in Bloomington
Regions
The City of Bloomington resides in Monroe County. The Bloomington, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area (Bloomington MSA) is defined by the United States Census Bureau as an area consisting of three Indiana counties—Monroe, Greene, and Owen.
As of the 2000 Census, the Bloomington MSA had a population of 175,506 (though a 2009 United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 185,598).
Stats Indiana provides a detailed profile of the Bloomington MSA and of Monroe County:
Labor Force
| Labor Force | Employment | Unemployment | Unemployment Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington MSA | 94,273 | 88,441 | 6,784 | 7.1% |
| Economic Region 8 | 155,630 | 144,126 | 11,504 | 7.4% |
| Monroe County | 69,690 | 65,072 | 4,618 | 6.6% |
Data Source: Hoosiers By the Numbers (November 2011)
Population Characteristics
Population| Yesterday (2000) | Today (2010) | Tomorrow (2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington MSA | 175,506 | 192,714 | 202,830 |
| Monroe County | 120,563 | 137,974 | 148,420 |
Data Source: Hoosiers By the Numbers
Age Distribution| Bloomington MSA | Monroe County | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 9,619 | 6,430 |
| 5 to 17 | 25,472 | 15,790 |
| 18 to 24 | 45,178 | 41,044 |
| 25 to 44 | 46,462 | 33,530 |
| 45 to 64 | 43,872 | 27,555 |
| 65 and older | 22,643 | 14,129 |
Data Source: Hoosiers By the Numbers; U.S. Census Bureau; Stats Indiana
Race and Ethnicity
| Race/Ethnicity | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 91.2% |
| Asian | 4.1% |
| Black | 2.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.0% |
| Two or more races | 1.99% |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 0.3% |
Data Source: Hoosiers By the Numbers; U.S. Census Bureau (2010)
Education Characteristics
Education Attainment
| High School + | Bachelor's Degree + | |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington MSA | 91% | 54.8% |
Data Source: Stats Indiana
Higher Education Enrollment
| Institution | Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Indiana University-Bloomington | 42,000 |
| Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington | 6,500 |
Data Source: Stats Indiana
Employment By Industry
Employment By Industry
| Industry | Bloomington MSA* | Monroe County |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 26,111 | 23,081 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 9,156* | 9,156 |
| Retail Trade | 10,244 | 8,145 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 7,942* | 7,231 |
| Manufacturing | 9,362 | 6,990 |
| Other Services | 18,004* | 4,409 |
| Professional, Scientific, Technical Services | 5,184 | 3,832 |
| Construction | 4,884 | 3,599 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,883* | 1,731 |
| Information | 1,646* | 1,574 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,654* | 1,545 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,680 | 1,014 |
* These totals do not include county data which are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
Data Source: Indiana Business Research Center, May 2011, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Back to the Top
Income & Wages
2011 Bloomington MSA Average Yearly Salary = $38,110
2010 Bloomington MSA Per Capita Personal Income = $30,022
2010 Monroe County Median Family Income = $38,348
Data Source: Hoosiers By the Numbers
Annual Unemployment Average
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington MSA | 5.2% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 7.0% | 6.9% |
| Monroe County | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.0% | 6.3% | 6.4% |
Data Source: Stats Indiana; Bureau of Labor Statistics (*2007 rate in August)
Building Permits Issued
| Single-Family | Multi-Family | |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington MSA | 196 | 67 |
| Monroe County | 194 | 67 |
Data Source: Stats Indiana (2010)
City of Bloomington Economic Development Areas
Bloomington Economic Development Areas
- View as GIF [49 KB]
- View as PDF [560.87 KB]
Downtown Economic Development Areas
- View as GIF [76.59 KB]
- View as PDF [637.13 KB]
Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD)
- View as GIF [116.88 KB]
- View as PDF [145.79 KB]
Bloomington Urban Enterprise Zone (BUEZ)
- View as GIF [121.29 KB]
- View as PDF [974.54 KB]
Certified Technology Park (CTP)
- View as GIF [136.21 KB]
- View as PDF [836.66 KB]
Community Revitalization and Enhancement Districts (CRED)
Downtown CRED:
- View as GIF [37.58 KB]
- View as PDF [386.02 KB]
Thomson CRED:
- View as GIF [28.01 KB]
- View as PDF [337.35 KB]
Bloomington Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts
- View as GIF [42.12 KB]
- View as PDF [448.69 KB]
Monroe County Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts
- View as PDF [423 KB]
Interactive Maps
Additional Map Resources
- Monroe County, Indiana GIS
- City of Bloomington Interactive Map
- State of Indiana Major Highways, Ports, and Airports Map [PDF, 2.0 MB]
- I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis Route Map [PDF, 612 KB]
- City of Bloomington Bicycle and Pedestrian Maps [PDF, 1.90 MB]
- City of Bloomington 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan maps [PDF, 1.66 MB]
Monroe County Shovel Ready Sites
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Certifying sites and existing buildings to expedite the location and permitting processes for business development
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Identifying and fast tracking the state and local permits necessary for a specific site (dependent on the end user)
Airports
Indianapolis International Airport
Bloomington is only 47 miles (less than a one hour drive) from the Indianapolis International Airport (Airport Code: IND), which serves approximately 8.5 million passengers on 11 major airlines each year. Indianapolis International Airport is also one of the world's largest cargo airports (eighth in the United States, 21st worldwide).
As of the first quarter of 2012, there were 135 daily departures to 34 nonstop destinations from Indianapolis International Airport (IND).
For more information, visit www.indianapolisairport.com
Nonstop destinations to/from Indianapolis:
Atlanta (ATL) |
Memphis (MEM) |
For more information, visit www.indianapolisairport.com.
Monroe County Airport
Monroe County Airport (Airport Code: BMG) is a county-owned public-use airport located three miles southwest of Bloomington's central business district. Our community’s aviation facility provides convenient access for private, corporate, and chartered commercial aircraft operations.
The airport’s 6,500 foot runway will easily accommodate your business needs, and with nearly 50,000 annual operations, local and transient businesses utilize the air traffic control services, precision instrument landing systems, automated weather services, and full service Fixed Base Operators. For more information, visit www.airnav.com/airport/BMG.
Rail
The Indiana Rail Road Company is a Class 2 regional freight railroad operating on a 500-mile route structure of former Milwaukee Road and Illinois Central lines in Indiana and Illinois, including terminals at Chicago, Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Louisville.
Annual car loadings approach 170,000 and include coal, petroleum products, plastics, ethanol, grain, aggregates, lumber, appliances and other mixed freight. For more information, visit www.inrd.com.
Interstate Access
Construction of I-69 in southwest Indiana began on July 13, 2008. Today, I-69 connects Indianapolis with the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan/Sarnia, Ontario. While it only passes through two states now, I-69 is an important link between the lower Midwest and the most populous provinces of Canada. However, current plans will extend I-69 much further.
The I-69 extension will connect three different border crossings in Texas (Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville) to I-465 in Indianapolis; from there, traffic will continue over the existing I-69 and other freeways (such as U.S. 127 and U.S. 24 to border crossing in Detroit, Port Huron or Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Approximately 1,600 miles of freeway (including the three Texas branches) will be added to existing I-69 when it is completed.
Navigable Inland Ports
Indiana ranks 6th in U.S. waterborne shipping and 13th for foreign and domestic shipping with about 70 million tons of cargo per year. More than half of Indiana's border is water, which includes 400 miles of direct access to two major freight transportation arteries - the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway and the Inland Waterway System. The Ports of Indiana is self-funded enterprise that operates a system of three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan for the state of Indiana.
Access to Indiana ports:
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Port of Indiana-Jeffersonville: 100m
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Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon: 168m
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Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor: 210m
For more information, visit www.portsofindiana.com.