2025 State of Public Schools: McLean County’s Education Leaders Emphasize Collaboration and Growth
On October 30, 2025, local business, civic, and education leaders gathered for the 2025 State of Public Schools, an annual event highlighting the successes, challenges, and future goals of K–12 public education across McLean County. Mark DeKeersgieter, Executive Director of CIRBN, LLC opened the program by welcoming attendees and introducing Shelly Purchis, Manager of Workforce Development & Foundation […]
McLean County Expands Opportunities for Students Through the Bloomington Career Academy
McLean County continues to create additional opportunities for students to explore various career pathways with the opening this past August of the new 200,000 sq ft. Bloomington Career Academy (BCA). Formerly housed in one wing of Bloomington High School as the Bloomington Area Career Center, BCA now has a state-of-the-art learning center for approximately 20 […]
1,789 Students from Leadership Communities Receive College and Career Pathway Endorsements
Leadership Confere
727 Students from Leadership Communities Receive College and Career Pathway Endorsements
Congratulations to all the school districts who awarded College and Career Pathway Endorsements to 1,072 students in the Class of 2023. We’re thrilled to share that 727 of those students are from nine of our Success Network Leadership Communities: Aurora Regional Pathways, Black Hawk Region Pathways, Boone County, Greater Peoria Pathways, Lake County, McLean County, […]
McLean Compact Launches New Website, Virtual Becoming BN Program
The McLean Compact brought on two AmeriCorps VISTA members in June, launched a new website at mcleancocompact.org and conducted the Becoming BN program virtually in July. The Compact team plans to conduct a series of Education to Employer Roundtables this fall, and work with the Regional Office of Education and Bloomington Area Career Center to support […]
COVID-19 Resource Website Launched
To support communities during COVID-19, the McLean Chamber of Commerce, which serves as the backbone organization for the McLean County Leadership Community, has developed a new, jointly-sponsored website with resources for community access.
McLean County Update: December 2019
2019 was a busy year in McLean County. They piloted Becoming BN, developed the Education to Employer Summit, launched the Essential Workplace Skills in partnership, and continued work with the College and Career Pathways Endorsements.
COMPACT Partners with Heartland Community College to Develop an Essential Workplace Skills Curriculum
With grant funding assistance from EdSystems, committees are working to complete education and training pathways and stackable credentials in identified industry clusters.
McLean County Update: September 2018
Over the last several months the McLean County Compact action teams have developed a logic model that outlines resources, activities, products and outcomes related to joint goals, including the 60 by 25 goal.
McLean County Community COMPACT Merges with BN Advantage Workforce Development Task Force
The McLean County 60 by 25 Network leadership team has taken a big step to strengthen their efforts toward the 60 by 25 goal.