[0:00] (upbeat music)

[0:04] - [Tim] My friends, the

state of Bloomington,

[0:06] the state of our city is strong.

[0:08] We are continuing to

advance the priorities

[0:10] of our community-based

Bloomington Tomorrow Together

[0:13] strategic plan, which has

a mission to cultivate

[0:16] an enduring and remarkable community

[0:18] where people want to be.

[0:19] - [Narrator] City

leaders, business owners,

[0:21] and community members came

together at the Radisson Blu

[0:23] at Mall of America on Friday, March 21st,

[0:26] for Bloomington's annual

state of the city address,

[0:28] Best of Bloomington.

[0:30] - The state of the city

address is an annual event.

[0:33] And we do it every year

to provide an update

[0:34] on the work going on within the city.

[0:36] Talk about some of the

notable accomplishments.

[0:39] And to call out the outstanding

work that's being done

[0:41] by our neighbors, and our nonprofits,

[0:43] and our city employees.

[0:44] - [Narrator] Audience

participation kicked things off,

[0:46] highlighting students who participated

[0:48] in the annual citywide

Bloomington Civics Bee.

[0:51] - My name is Ewan.

[0:51] And my question is, which

Article of the Constitution

[0:54] spells out the powers of the presidency?

[0:55] A, Article I.

[0:57] B, Article II.

[0:58] C, Article III.

[1:00] Or D, Article IV.

[1:01] - I've been doing this

for a few years now,

[1:02] and the questions are not easy.

[1:04] - And the correct answer is B, Article II.

[1:06] - [Tim] Thank you all for playing.

[1:07] I hope you enjoyed your

civics lessons today.

[1:09] - [Narrator] The presentation

allowed time for reflection,

[1:11] and looked back at all

that happened in 2024.

[1:14] Including key investments in spaces

[1:16] that preserve our environment

and bring people together,

[1:18] business investments and development,

[1:20] state and national

recognition for city services,

[1:23] and so much more.

[1:24] - [Tim] I'm so excited to

announce, that in February,

[1:27] the city approved its first ever

[1:29] citywide economic

development strategic plan.

[1:32] - [Narrator] In addition to

featuring groundbreakings,

[1:34] ribbon cuttings, and other

business support opportunities,

[1:37] the mayor announced the second year

[1:38] of the Hatch Bloomington

Business Pitch Competition.

[1:41] - [Tim] Hatch is a pitch competition

[1:43] where entrepreneurs pitch

their business ideas

[1:45] to a panel of judges and to the public.

[1:47] The top prize is $100,000,

and support to open

[1:51] a brick and mortar retail business

[1:52] right here in Bloomington.

[1:53] Congratulations to Grant

Veitheimer and Nick Peterson.

[1:56] They make a killer breakfast sandwich.

[1:59] The opening of their permanent space,

[2:00] a fast casual egg-centric restaurant

[2:03] in the Town & Country shopping center

[2:04] at Portland and American Boulevard

[2:06] is just around the corner.

[2:08] Be on the lookout for the ribbon cutting.

[2:09] - [Narrator] Public safety

was another key focus,

[2:11] with police and fire departments

outlining new initiatives

[2:14] to strengthen emergency

response and community.

[2:17] - One concerning item

in our community survey

[2:20] was the fact that the

ratings for the availability

[2:23] of affordable quality mental health care

[2:25] declined 15% from 2023.

[2:28] We recognize this is a

need in our community.

[2:30] It's a need everywhere.

[2:31] And we are responding.

[2:32] Last year, police in collaboration with

[2:34] our outstanding public health staff,

[2:36] kicked off the Bloomington Community

[2:38] Brain Health Services program,

[2:39] which serves residents who

are in crisis and post-crisis.

[2:43] - [Narrator] The mayor also

recognized the notable neighbors

[2:46] who make Bloomington remarkable.

[2:48] - Let's take a minute to introduce you

[2:50] to some of the innovative, talented,

[2:53] caring people whose contributions

[2:55] make this community special.

[2:56] (audience clapping)

[2:58] When we talk about the

best of Bloomington,

[3:00] we absolutely need to include

our Bloomington schools,

[3:03] and our institutions of higher learning.

[3:06] - [Narrator] And finally,

Normandale Hills Elementary

[3:08] music teacher, Jeff Supfer,

[3:09] the recipient of an

Inclusive Educator Award,

[3:11] was recognized, and led students

and the audience in song.

[3:16] - Find somebody who you came

with, somebody you know,

[3:18] look 'em in the eye and

say, "You are Bloomington."

[3:20] - [Audience] You are Bloomington.

[3:22] ♪ You and me ♪

[3:25] ♪ We belong ♪

[3:29] - [Jeff] Jazz hands,

jazz hands on this one.

[3:31] (audience clapping and cheering)