Corson Riverwoods County Park is an 80 acre park that will feature a 1.5 mile trail including an accessible aggregate 10 foot wide looped trail. Additional mowed paths will meander through woodlands and wetlands. The main trail will create elements of discovery with a "pollinator themed play path" that will feature large climbing and spinning playground equipment featuring ladybugs, bees, and butterflies clustered in five play pods spaced out along the trail. The READI funds will be used to implement these play path features. Basic trail infrastructure is presently being constructed, followed by the parking lot in the spring of 2023. Other features that will be built at the park along with the play path in mid-2023 to early 2024 include an accessible modern restroom and shelter. 

The development of the Corson Riverwoods County Park is being funded by the following partners:
Trail infrastructure and parking: LWCF, Elkhart County Parks, and Community Foundation of Elkhart County
Prairie Planting and Reforestation: USFWS Partners for Wildlife
Pollinator Play Path: READI, Well Foundation, Bontrager Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Elkhart County, and other donations.
Modern Restrooms: Elkhart County Commissioners with local ARPA funds
Picnic Shelter: Elkhart County Parks, Community Foundation

The outcome of this project will be full development of Corson Riverwoods County Park that will be a regional draw for a diversity of people to connect with the nature.

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161 Corson_Team on pathway

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The Tolson Center for Community Excellence is a local community center located in the neighborhood of South Central Elkhart and is anticipated to serve 300-500 individuals through on-site programming. The programs delivered will focus on inclusive learning, cultural exchange, and recreation that have monthly outputs and outcomes focused on the number of youth programs (output-8/quarter), number of senior programs (output-6 weekly), satisfaction of the users (output-yearly).  The expenditures for the READI grant will include fire protection, signage, flooring, roof, landscaping, irrigation, bleachers, and a soccer field. The start date was July 2022 and the anticipated end date is November 2024. The funding contributors include the City of Elkhart with $5M, Community Foundation of Elkhart County with $2M (split between operational support and capital investments), Lily Endowment with $2.2M, and a local philanthropist with $3.2M. Anticipated results will include reaching 80% of users who are satisfied with programming, feel a sense of belonging to the center, and gain new skills at the center. We anticipate the City of Elkhart to report positive feedback in support of Tolson's impact in the city.

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The Portage Place Project will redevelop the former Ward Bakery Building. The building has been vacant for several years and this project would reactivate a critical block within the Near Northwest Neighborhood with small scale food and retail on the first floor, as well as tenants on the upper floors. The project will be completed in 3 phases. Milestones Phase 1 will be completed between January 2022 and March 2024. It will include: completing architectural plans, environmental remediation, new roof, exterior envelope repair, replacement of windows/doors, installation of water/sewer/plumbing, electrical service, HVAC, fire protection system, and other life safety and ADA features required to bring building up to code. READI Funds will be used to cover Fire Protection , Mechanical HVAC , Windows/Doors , and ADA Restrooms. Phase 2 will be completed by December 2024 and includes the build out and occupancy of the ground floor (~20,000sf). Phase 3 will be completed in 2025 and includes the build out and occupancy of 2nd floor and basement (~20,000sf). We anticipate our tenants will create 70 new jobs. Tenants will be sourced through our community partners, commercial broker, and social media. We will have turned a neighborhood nuisance into a vibrant neighborhood commercial anchor and intentionally inclusive center for business, culture, and the arts. This project will improve South Bend's quality of place and will help the region attract and retain residents.

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South Bend International Airport has embarked on the creation of an optimally located multi-modal logistics center, offering air cargo, highway connectivity, and rail access at the confluence of the South Bend International Airport, US31 and I80/I90 and the anticipated relocation of the eastern terminus of the NICTD South Shore rail line. The project is in early stages of development, however significant project elements are already underway, centered around land acquisition, partnership development and master planning. The Airport Authority is providing funds to be used toward development and part of land acquisition costs. READI funds will cover the remainder of land acquisition costs. Project began December 2022 and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025. The development of the targeted 300-acre site into a commerce and logistics center represents a transformational opportunity. The plan for the site features airside cargo access, an anticipated 2.5 million square feet of space under roof, and investment in the hundreds of millions. Job creation is expected to reach thousands of jobs, available to nearby underserved communities, and also resulting in in-migration of specialized workers. The project will help protect the region against future negative economic impacts and supply chain disruptions.

The Water Street Townhomes project will develop a housing complex with 3, 2, and 1 bedroom units and a new 1,302 sq. ft. retail storefront in Plymouth’s downtown, including the renovation of an adjacent public parking lot. The developer will build 12 townhomes; 10 will be ready for resident occupancy within the project scope. READI funds will be used on construction, utility, and parking lot/sidewalk work. Project site work will commence Q2 2024 with READI funded deliverables completed by December 2025. Funding will be provided by Culver Sand Hill Farm LLC and the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission. The project’s intended outcomes include having a significantly positive impact on enhancing the quality of place in the downtown neighborhood where is located. There will be increased population and economic activity through the purchase of goods and services in the region. The neighborhood where the new townhomes are located will see beautification due to new development on the now-vacant parking lot area, as well as increased property values. The expanded parking lot will provide enhanced access to nearby public amenities and services.

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The project will build 135 workforce housing apartments on an abandoned 4 acre brownfield site in the heart of Goshen. The City has no capacity in its CSO system to absorb stormwater runoff from this site. As a result, all stormwater must be absorbed on site through multiple types of stormwater management systems, including green infrastructure, underground storage facilities and permeable hardscape. Readi funds will be spent on site infrastructure including engineering and design, lot development, water service, sanitary sewer, storm water sewer, lot paving, concrete (curbs, sidewalks, etc), landscaping and other amenities. 
2.) Construction will start 3/1/2023 and be complete by 9/30/2024.
3.) The City has approved the issuance of a project based TIF bond In the approximate amount of $4.5 million (100% pledge of TIF for 25 years). The City has also committed to investing approximately $3 million in off-site improvements, including a public parking lot adjacent to the north of the project and the complete rebuild of East Douglas Street on the east side of the project.
4.) Success will be measured by the number of workforce housing apartments built = 135; New residents estimated at full lease-up at 204 residents of which 73 (36%) may be minority. Essential Workers housing goal of 20% of the units would provide 27 units for essential worker households.

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The Marshall County Career Innovation Center (MCCIC) will provide skill development and career exposure for students and workers to secure professional certifications or degrees and skills aligned with industry needs.

Immediate outcomes include a 63% increase in CTE enrollment, 5 new CTE pathways, the # of adults who obtain their HSE and # of certifications or completion of employability skills training. Medium/long-term outcomes will include % of full-time/ benefitted vs. underemployed, economic movement from low-wage to middle-wage, County job retention, upward economic mobility at years 1 and 3 post-program, and growth of labor participation rates of target populations.  

READI funds will be allocated to PCSC for construction and improvements. Funding contributors include Marshall County, City of Plymouth, and PCSC. Additional contributors are anticipated.

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Bremen's Sunnyside Park already draws thousands of visitors each year through events like the summer Firemen's Festival, Pickleball Tournaments, Fourth of July, and October Fest. The park's successes also create capacity challenges. Currently, the park's pickleball courts are beyond capacity, overlapping use between clubs, high school sports teams, and the  The ability to support additional park usage, several more tournaments, 300-500 more club members, and more variety of concurrent uses, will all make the park more inclusive and improve quality of life. Indiana's four seasons also limit use of the park, with amenities mostly geared toward warmer months. The addition of firepits will create expanded use during colder months, enhancing already popular outdoor space. Additionally, new multilingual signage for the park will help make the community's growing Latinx and Hispanic population (over 25% according to recent census data) feel more welcome. READI funds and additional funds from the Town of Bremen, Bremen Park Department and the Pickleball club will be used to add the Pickleball courts, firepits, signage and new sidewalks to our growing park area. Anticipated start date for the project is May of 2023 and with completion in August of 2023.

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207 Bremen Sunnyside_courts2

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The Harrison Street Trail project will create an 8 foot wide concrete trail connecting the Oak Drive commercial corridor to the west to Magnetic Park/Conservation Clubhouse and the existing Greenways Trail network to the east. READI funds will be used on construction of the trail. The project timeline is: Preliminary Design and Surveying: November 2022 thru February 2023 Construction Design: April 2023 thru May 2023 Right-of-Way Acquisition: June 2023 thru July 2023 Bidding/Contract Award: August 2023 Construction: August 2023 thru May 2024. Funding will be provided by the City of Plymouth and perhaps other grant opportunities. The project’s intended outcomes include having significantly more users than the current sidewalk partially existing in the neighborhood. Usage of the new trail will be measured by performing periodic pedestrian traffic counts on the existing sidewalk to establish base data, followed by counts on the new trail for comparison. Additionally, the City will measure investments in the properties adjacent to the trail through building permits monitoring and review of property assessed valuations. The National Recreation and Park Association has noted studies finding single family residential properties adjacent to trails may anticipate seeing increases in property values between 3-15%. The City anticipates an increase of 5% for the affected properties.

1) READI funds will be used as a cash allocation to the hard-costs of the construction of the Fieldhouse. This includes infrastructure, utilities, and other key hard-costs. 

The delivery of the facility is the first step in the development of the corridor, creation of direct, indirect, and induced economic impact, and the ability to deliver subsequent phases of complimentary uses. 

2) Timeline  

Development: 2018-2022
Preconstruction: July 2022-January 2023
Construction: February 2023-July 2024
Opening: August 2024

3) Partners/Funding 

Card & Associates and the City of Mishawaka have agreed to fund a portion of project costs through Bond Financing, to be paid across 25 years. The repayment of these bonds will be from Developer Contributions, Tax Increment Allocation, and St. Joseph County's Allocation of 1% of the Innkeepers tax on an annual basis. In addition, the READI money is what makes this project feasible, and will go towards hard-costs as aforementioned. 

4) Intended Outcome 

Outcomes will be measured by the tangible Economic Impact, as well as the increase in Hotel Room Nights, Subsequent Surrounding Development, and overall increased Economic Success of the surrounding region. Initially forecasted Economic Impact Analyses conservatively calculate that the Fieldhouse, upon stability, will generate: 

Economic Output/Sales: $34,510,000
Earnings: $11,820,000
Jobs: 473

The facility is also projected to add 20,000+ room nights on an annual basis.

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The purpose of this project is to increase growth and economic opportunity by offering housing stock in a community challenged by low inventory, high demand, high property values, and a large workforce coming into Culver with nowhere to live. 

Housing types will include multi-family, bungalows, duplexes, and patio flats. This project will increase Culver's population, increase assessed value, and attract and retain employable talent in the region. 

READI funds will be used for sewer and water and infrastructure. Public matching funds will be provided by the Culver Redevelopment Commission. Private matching funds will be provided by the developer, Culver Equities LLC. 

By March 31, 2023, we will have established a TIF area where the housing development will be built and the developer should have completed a final site plan. Zoning/permitting will also be substantially completed by March 2023. We plan to start construction in late spring or early summer 2023 with utilities and infrastructure going in first (READI-funded), a clubhouse with amenities, and the first set of a total of 78 units of housing. The developer plans to complete construction of all of this phase's units by the end of 2025. A second phase will bring the total of housing units to 200.

Located in a federal Opportunity Zone, this project has three phases of mixed-use development over the next five years. Phase 1 is shovel-ready and will kick off once a development agreement is in place. weIMPACT has partnered with the City of Elkhart, which has committed $6,250,000 in funds to the project. The remaining capital stack includes READI funds - $6,500,000, equity in a QOZ fund - $6,700,000, and debt (balance of stack). We will use READI funds for land assemblage, remediation of brownfield site conditions, bringing appropriate utilities and infrastructure to the sites, foundations, pavement, landscaping, lighting, public art, design services, building materials, and labor. Key Performance Outputs include building 100-140 new DUs with a mix of rental and for-sale housing options in the same neighborhood. Develop nearly 28,000 square feet of new commercial and retail space. Support 10 new entrepreneurs and businesses with retail, commercial, and live/work solutions. We will build in three phases starting January 2023 with completion by year-end 2026.

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The Madison Lifestyle District is a transformative development connecting the Beacon Memorial medical campus to downtown South Bend. It focuses on housing and amenities that enhance the region’s ability to attract and retain talent. The District will feature over 240 urban housing units (with at least 30% having income qualified rents), a first-class hotel, commercial space and structured parking. Investment for the District will total$137.78M, including $102M of private investment procured by the project sponsor.  Construction of the District will be phased. The Project is the first phase and includes site acquisition, infrastructure work and construction of a ~600 space parking garage, 100+ key first class hotel, commercial offerings and at least 155 housing units. ARPA funds will be used for the Project parking structure and site infrastructure and will be fully deployed by Q4 2026 with matched public funds of $24M and overall match of at least 4:1. The Project commenced Q1 2024 and will be completed in 2028. The remainder of the District, including structured parking of ~300 spaces, at least 85 more residences and new commercial offerings will be completed in partnership with the City. In total, the District is a generational opportunity to enhance the regional quality of life and support talent attraction and retention; workforce and industry growth; increased property values: and ultimately - the region’s vision for a vibrant, thriving downtown South Bend.

The Morris Performing Arts Center "Morris 100" project includes upgrades to modernize the theater-going experience and make it more safe, relevant, accessible, and economically impactful. It includes a building addition, redeveloped public park, new performance spaces, and the creation of an arts equity program. The goal is to enhance the quality of life offerings and destination appeal while inciting additional economic gains and future development opportunities. Success will be measured primarily by the Annual Economic Impact Study conducted by The Morris. This key performance indicator will illustrate an increase in hotel occupancy rates, increased food and beverage spending in the local area, and other direct/indirect revenues induced by more ticket sales and larger and more frequent events. Extending the theater's demographic reach by geography, age, and race will be another measured goal. The execution of infill development opportunities will also demonstrate the success of this public-private initiative. Finally, the evolving diversity of acts, the number of students engaged, and the number of arts-based partner organizations we host will further inform the impact of our Equity in Arts program. Grants and private donations fund two-thirds of the project, while the City of South Bend funds the final third. READI funds will cover some of the construction costs. Construction is anticipated to start in May 2023 and be complete by December 2024.

In 2015 the Potawatomi Zoo privatized, separating from the City of South Bend. At the same time the Zoo embarked on a $37 million Master Plan that would position the Zoo as a self sustainable, state of the art regional destination. With over $11 million dollars invested since 2015, the Zoo is breaking records and meeting the goals that were put forth at that time.   

The increase in attendance along with high standards of animal welfare to remain an accredited zoo drive the need to replace outdated cages for animals  to modern habitats that immerse visitors into their natural habitats. Increased attendance has also driven the need for better amenities like concessions.  Phase 3 of the Zoo's Master Plan addresses these needs. READI grant funds, along with private donations and public funds through a hotel tax allocation will cover this $9.5 million project. The funds allocated by READI will specifically go towards the Concession and Bear lodge that has already broken ground. Once completed in the Fall of 2023, all READI allocated funds should be expended.  

The completion of this new concession lodge and bear habitat will continue to drive operational funds that will be invested into our organization. Having a good dining experience will drive private events and visitation to the Zoo.  This project will also drive additional employment. Viewing bears from inside the restaurant as you dine will be unique to this region, adding to the overall future success of the Zoo.

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The Project consists of: 1) building a new Visitors Center, 2) building an Open Air Pavilion, 3) expanding parking and associated infrastructure, 4) relocating and repurposing the existing Visitors Cottage, and 5) acquiring adjacent property for future parking. READI funds will be directed to reimbursement costs of expanding the parking lot and relocation of the existing Visitors Cottage. READI funds support increased quality of place, promote economic development, and encourage diversity, equity and inclusion while providing financial sustainability, increasing mission-effectiveness and enabling increased collaboration. The Project is anticipated to begin in April 2023 and be completed by June 2024. The Project is being designed and managed by Arkos Design of Mishawaka. DJ Construction is providing pre-construction consultation, serves as construction manager/contractor and will obtain sub-contractors, including those selected through bidding process to complete the parking expansion and Visitors Cottage relocation portions of the project. The Community Foundation of Elkhart County provided some matching funding as indicated in the fundraising budget. The Project will enhance guest experience through improved access and amenities while serving greater numbers of guests including students and tour buses. The Project increases volunteer service opportunities, partnerships with local schools for community service/internship opportunities, and increased employment opportunities.

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218 Wellfield Woodland Pavilion

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Through the Talent Attraction pillar, the WE+YOU project partners are proposing a 3-year program to activate on a robust talent attraction plan on behalf of the region. With a strong partnership amongst the implantation partners: the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce and MakeMyMove, and proven track records from all, we anticipate a highly effective and inclusive approach to turning around the talent outflow into a net positive inflow. We strive to make the South Bend – Elkhart region number one in the state for retaining and attracting educated talent. READI funds are being requested to fund primarily salaries, training materials, and consulting fees for a WE+YOU program manager, a marketing agency, and MakeMyMoves fees. Approximate timeline for the project is January 2023 to December 2025. 

At the conclusion of the three-year READI project WE+YOU Talent Attraction and Retention Campaign, we anticipate the following results:

# of Reached: 18,737
# of Non-Students Reached:161,997
# of Students Engaged: 2,439
# of Non-Students Engaged: 9,979
# of Qualified Households: 1,089
# of Households Attracted: 325 

Together, the organizations are bringing forward $2.7M in matching funds for this project between local and state funds, and private contributors.

Talent for Tomorrow aims to strengthen the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by 1) supporting startup accelerators and entrepreneurship education programs at two local universities and 2) providing paid internships for high school seniors and recent high school graduates at local startups to create a talent pipeline for these programs and their emerging startups. The program will leverage the expertise and resources consortium of partner organizations (the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College) and the lead program operator, RISE. Each consortium member will contribute matching funds to the program. In year one, READI will fund the construction of facilities for the expanded internship and accelerator programs. In years 1-3, READI will fund paid internships and staff positions for accelerator and entrepreneurship education programs. Over the next three years, the program will help develop 90 new startups towards the region’s goal of establishing 275 startups by 2030. The program will provide 35 paid internships for high school students. In Year 1, five interns will support 15 emerging startups, ten interns will support 25 startups in Year 2, and 20 will support 50 emerging startups in Year 3. By providing forward-thinking programs, unparalleled opportunities, and a comprehensive support network, Talent for Tomorrow seeks to create a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that drives economic growth, innovation, and job creation in the region. AT: 1/23-12/25.

We propose to expand regional entrepreneurial services through growth of our Research, Development, and Entrepreneurship (RDE) program where Fellows can commit up to 30% of their time towards developing their own startup and/or working with an existing startup. READI funding will enable the RDE program to 1) hire a program director, 2) increase part-time Fellow-led and Fellow-placed startups in the program, and 3) leverage external funding for new full-time placement opportunities with startups. READI dollars will support a full-time program director whose responsibilities will include: -Recruiting talent to the enFocus Fellowship toward Fellow-led startup incubation, -Building projects with regional startups that increase Fellow-placed startup incubation, -Continuing to grow relationships with national investor networks to attract startups to the region (Beta-City initiative) and -Matching Fellows for startup placements each year across the program. We will leverage READI dollars and various public/private funding with existing enFocus Fellows to pursue full-time opportunities with the most promising startups participating in the program. The project will launch on January 1, 2023 and conclude on December 31, 2026.  We will grow the annual number of Fellow-led and Fellow-placed startups from 5 to 20 by 2026. Overall, we expect the program to incubate 80 startups, generate at least 10 successful companies and create >50 new regional jobs.

Under the Entrepreneurship Pillar, South Bend Code Works (SBCW) and Human Delta, Inc. (HD) propose a 3-year program (beginning in January 2023 and ending in December 2025) to deliver technology assistance grants to small businesses in the South Bend | Elkhart Region. The Digital Storefront Program will assist 60 small businesses, at least 75% of which will be female or minority-owned. READI funds will reimburse the expense of full-time employees, who are critical to the management and execution of the Digital Storefront Program. 

SBCW will deliver the Digital Storefront Program, which will help regional businesses that lack the resources and/or knowledge actualize their potential for growth through digital means. Whether a business lacks an online presence, is at the early stages of experimenting with digital capabilities, or is seeking more advanced support, the Digital Storefront Program will accelerate its journey.

HD will support the program by performing all grant management activities.

SBCW and HD bring $600,000 in matching public funds from regional economic development groups and $640,000 in matching private funds for this project.

Seeking funding to develop a Manufacturing Readiness Accelerator that will provide local industries pursuing advanced automation initiatives with access to advisory services and technology to produce flexible automation cells. By leveraging common automation themes, we can bring a cohort of companies together for strategic collaboration and guide them through implementing the technology. Grant funds will support the following items: 

-Automation supplier’s design costs
-Automation services of iNDustry Labs and enFocus to provide the open-source accelerator deliverables
-Workforce training stipend for each cohort
-Management and coordination by iNDustry Labs and enFocus of the accelerator 
-The flexible cell runoff expenses

The accelerator will begin Q2 2023 with the first cohort. The cohort companies are critical members of the accelerator. Each company would be given the opportunity to influence the design and get hands-on experience with the equipment during the runoff phase. Each accelerator will conclude when the equipment is installed in the sponsor company's facility. The open-source designs and key deliverables will be available for regional companies to use for years to come. 

The key partners are the SB-E Partnership, Industry Growth Committee, iNDustry Labs, enFocus, and LEDOs, along with Conexus. Our private partners include the sponsor company, cohort companies, automation suppliers, and regional workforce that will develop and implement the flexible cells.

The READI grant will expand the enFocus Fellowships and internships program. Today, enFocus hires 30 Fellows and 30 interns per year in support of 75 projects with public, private and nonprofits organizations across the region. The READI grant will add catalytic funding to hire more Fellows and interns by at least 40% across the current enFocus civic, industry and new project focus areas including sustainability and entrepreneurship from the period of January 2023 and December 2026. 

READI support will leverage multi-year commitments from local granting organizations and grow highly demanded Fellow projects that are receiving more than $2.5M annual in project fee income annually across St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall Counties. We expect that projects will continue to grow and the READI award will enable enFocus to hire more Fellows and target key sectors of the economy for talent attraction, development and retention. 

The award will ensure the hiring of 325 total Fellows and interns by 2026, including 60% STEM and Master’s level graduates, 50% women, and 20% minority and international students. We expect greater than 50% of Fellows and interns to be retained into high wage positions across the region. The award will bolster $16M in direct matching contributions and will generate an estimated $50 million in economic impact over the grant period. As a result, the enFocus READI award aligns strongly with the region’s 2030 goals for economic growth and development.

Engineering Your Future is an initiative to increase participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the Advanced Manufacturing programs delivered at the Elkhart Area Career Center and regional high schools. Focused on middle school-aged students, this combined awareness campaign and summer programming effort will increase students’ access to meaningful career exploration support. During the summer between eighth and ninth grades, students will participate in hands-on project-based learning activities and guided career exploration with community business partners in the area of advanced manufacturing. The program will allow students from underrepresented populations an opportunity to learn and develop employability skills and explore various careers. Additionally, our community will understand the relationship between advanced manufacturing and engineering and view this field as a career pathway that anyone with an interest can access.

Student programming is set to start summer 2024 and continue until December 31, 2026. Campaign activities will commence summer 2023. 

The EACC will use its operating budget to fund part of the personnel and equipment costs. READI will be used to purchase programming supplies and equipment as well as compensation costs for teachers involved with summer programming activities.

Local higher education leaders have created a partnership to work collaboratively on programs that leverage their strengths in achieving post-secondary goals shared with our region, The Regional Higher Education Talent Pipeline and Partnership Consortium (Consortium). The Consortium includes leaders from Ancilla, Bethel, Goshen, Holy Cross, IUSB, Ivy Tech, Notre Dame, and Saint Mary’s. The goal of the Consortium is to improve educational and healthcare outcomes throughout North Central Indiana. 

This project seeks to fund equipment that will create modern facilities in health sciences and advanced technology education at 4 institutions. The Consortium also proposes the development of a Health Industry-Education Partnership that will bring industry, economic, and education leaders together for innovative healthcare talent development and retention programs. Programs include the Healthcare Simulation Center at IUSB, the Mobile Career and Certifications Lab for advanced technology program at Ivy Tech College, the Nursing Skills Lab at Ancilla and the Nursing and Speech Language Pathology space at Saint Mary’s.  The project is expected to begin December 2022 and be completed by December 31, 2024. Expected results include new facilities, increased graduates from these programs entering workforce, and innovative, collaborative healthcare talent development and retention programs.

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Internship Program (Intern SBE) will continue to partner with local chambers and community leaders to expand the existing internship model, based on wage reimbursements, talent-matching, and programming, beyond the current occupation set of Engineering, IT, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to include growing pathways such as Healthcare, Education, Social Services, and Business. 

To facilitate this expansion, READI will fund the salary of a Regional Internship Manager who will lead the development of processes for the expansion of the regional internship model to include the pathways listed above, while also managing existing programs at enFocus and SBERP. Moreover, a portion of the READI funds may also be used to support the disbursement of intern wage reimbursements to employers—as well as costs associated with regional professional development/social programming and intern housing.

Alongside the pre-existing LIFT Network Internship Program, Intern SBE will launch as a pilot during the Spring/Summer of 2023 with an intent to create up to 10 new internships between the months of February and August. Through the combination of READI funds and existing Lilly Foundation support, we intend to create nearly 130 new internships by the end of 2026—internships that will deepen employer engagement with regional higher education institutions, increasing internship access to all occupation types and retention among all student demographics.

Under the Talent Development Pillar, the Next Path consortium of partners has come together to propose a 3-year program (beginning in January 2023 and ending in December 2025) to deliver training pathways for Software Development, Cybersecurity, Tech Support, Networking, and Data Science in an effort to enroll 600 individuals in sectoral job training in our Region with a particular focus on providing access to underrepresented communities. READI funds will reimburse the expense of full-time employees, who are critical to the management and execution of Next Path programs. 

Next Path programs will be delivered by training partners South Bend Code School (SBCS) and Trek10 and supported by the IT Sector Partnership (ITSP), which will conduct comprehensive surveying of over 110 local/regional businesses and organizations to determine the workforce skills needed in the area of Information Technology, and enFocus, which will help coordinate the connection of employers and employees toward the training programs that will be offered through the consortium. 

Together, ITSP, enFocus, SBCS, and Trek10 bring $1,700,000 in matching public funds from a variety of state and federal economic development engines, and over 3,158,000 in matching private funds for this project.

This program will expand work-based learning (WBL) opportunities (hands-on work experience, on-site at a business) for all area high school students, building supply before the St. Joseph Career Hub opens its doors in August 2025. This program will increase K-12 experiential learning opportunities, with the long-term goal to support talent development including increasing the % of graduation rates, student retention in pathways, and students connected with 21st century careers in our region. 

To implement this program, the South Bend Regional Chamber will hire an Experiential Learning Coordinator (ELC) in 2023. Key performance indicators are: by the end of 2026 to increase WBL placements by 110 (20% increase) and to ensure 26 (23%) of newly added WBL are filled by minority students.

The ELC will 1) build industry partnerships to scale up WBL and 2) foster collaboration between and with area school leaders, guidance counselors and instructors, community partners, and the Career Hub planning team to ensure WBL is prioritized.

READI funds will be used to launch the position in 2023-2024, with additional investment from SBR Chamber and South Bend Community School Corporation. Through a capital campaign for the Career Hub, industry leaders will contribute funds to sustain the position’s transition to the Hub in 2025. By 2026, the position will be funded fully and sustainably by tuition paid by schools sending students to the Hub.

Momentum is a transformative project repurposing two blighted buildings in South Bend into a “Hub” for entrepreneurs, investors, and startup enthusiasts to work, live, create, and thrive. The buildings are located in a QCT.
READI funds will be used in both buildings on architecture/design work, fire suppression, exterior windows, elevator and construction.  
The project began April ‘22 with the acquisition of the apartment, demolition began June ‘22 and the renovation of both buildings is planned to begin Spring ‘23. The anticipated completion of the apartments is Spring ‘24, and the full completion of the Hub in Fall ‘24.   
The primary delivery mechanisms include: Entrepreneur housing (12 units) contiguous to the Hub; Hub space supports entrepreneurs with co-working offices to foster entrepreneur interaction, venture investor collaboration, mentoring, consulting services; Commissary kitchen to enable a regional caterer to expand its production for area venues and events.

Primary partner is the City of South Bend, contributing funding by way of tax abatements, TIF Funds, and the Hub building.  

Our intended outcomes: accelerate the number of startups and improve quality of life in the region; increase the % of population between the ages of 18-35; increase the number of underrepresented startups; increase the success rate of startups who are still in business after 12 months and residing in the region; and increase employment opportunities in the region.

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The South Bend Elkhart region, with 526,054 residents is home to the distinguished University of Notre Dame. This thriving region was awarded the maximum READI 1.0 funds of $50 million.

Region Overview:

South Bend Elkhart

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Projects in South Bend Elkhart