Pictures Courtesy of Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bloomington represents a unique, cultural center in the middle of the Midwest. During the day the city is alive— with students hustling to class, professors pontificating with colleagues, and local professionals grabbing lunch on outdoor patios. At night the city is rich with music, theater, fantastic food and great local brews. It's the kind of place you love to visit and never want to leave.

The city boasts over 30 major festivals and events each year such as the Lotus World Music Festival and Little 500 Weekend. Being home to the country's top ranked music school means free world-class music (jazz, experimental or classical) nearly every night. Bloomington's energetic local music and bar scene consistently results in IU being listed as one of the nations top party schools. While there's a lot of fun to be had in Bloomington, there is also a strong Midwestern work ethic and a thriving tech scene. There are packed Geek Dinners, weekly organized techLunches, and incredible turn out for events like Ignite Bloomington or Bloomington Startup Weekend.

Pictures Courtesy of Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bloomington excels in technology due to the strong support it receives both from city government and Indiana University. The City of Bloomington has supported the establishment of the Bloomington Technology Partnership to foster the growth of the city’s high-tech economy. Indiana University’s establishment of the School of Informatics, the first school of its kind in the U.S., has also produced a steady flow of high quality tech professionals. IU also continually attracts some of the top business minds in the country through the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship, the #1 ranked public entrepreneurship program in the United States.

The City and University are critical partners in SproutBox's success. Both the Dean of the School of Informatics and the President of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation serve on SproutBox's Selection and Advisory Committee. SproutBox founders serve on the Bloomington City Council and Bloomington Technology Partnership. SproutBox is also a corporate sponser of the School of Informatics.

For more information on Bloomington’s business advantages, check out the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation website.

Pictures Courtesy of Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau

National Geographic calls Bloomington one of America's top adventure towns. It's Home to the state's largest inland lake and only national forest. Whether it's hiking, fishing, biking, kayaking, boating, skiing, camping, hot air ballooning, or golfing— Bloomington is a great place for recreation.

It's also a great place for sports. National ranked basketball and soccer programs have helped IU athletics earn 24 NCAA titles to date. Sproutbox entrepreneurs and employees can often be found tailgating in Hoosier Gold on IU football Saturdays or at Assembly Hall during basketball season to watch the 5-time national champion Hoosiers.

Being home to the Little 500 (the largest collegiate bike race in the U.S.) and the Hilly Hundred, Bloomington is also a great spot for cyclists. It's consistently ranked among the most bicycle and pedestrian friendly towns in the country. With the opening of downtown's new B-Line trail this summer, this trend is expanding even further.

For more information about Bloomington recreation, be sure to check out the website for the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.