$40 Million Awarded in South Bend – Elkhart Region READI Funds

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Development Authority (RDA) awarded $40 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant funds to 19 of Quality of Place projects and set aside $7 million for programmatic funding during its meeting at the Beacon Health Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center. The $40 million in READI grant funding will be leveraged to infuse $465 million of total regional investments across the Quality of Place projects.

“We received an impressive array of applications for well-thought and creative projects,” said John DeSalle, RDA Chair and Executive Engineer-in-Residence at iNDustry Labs at the University of Notre Dame. “These projects will impact arts and culture, economic development, housing, and recreation and wellness in Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties in a transformative way.”

The projects receiving READI funding are:

• Ariel Cycleworks, Elkhart County, $4,200,0000
• Beacon Integrated Health and Lifestyle District, St. Joseph County, $11,780,000
• Bremen Sunnyside Park Improvements, Marshall County, $82,965
• Corson Riverwoods County Park, Elkhart County, $153,035
• Culver South Main Housing Project, Marshall County, $1,300,000
• Downtown Elkhart River District, Elkhart County, $6,500,000
• George Wilson Park, St. Joseph County, $200,000
• Harrison Street Trail, Marshall County, $144,000
• Marshall County Career Innovation Center, Marshall County, $1,750,000
• Mishawaka Fieldhouse, St. Joseph County, $5,000,000
• Momentum SBE Entrepreneurship Hub, St. Joseph County, $550,000
• Morris Performing Arts Center "Morris 100 Project", St. Joseph County, $1,500,000
• Portage Place Business, Culture and Arts Accelerator/Incubator, St. Joseph County, $550,000
• Potawatomi Zoo Concession Lodge and Black Bear Habitat, St. Joseph County, $1,070,000
• Pumpkinvine Nature Trail Completion, Elkhart County, $100,000
• South Bend International (SBN) Air Cargo and Logistics Center Site Acquisition, Regional, $800,000
• Tolson Center for Community Excellence, Elkhart County, $2,600,000
• Water Street Townhomes, Marshall County, $520,000
• Wellfield Visitor Center, Elkhart County, $1,200,000

The RDA worked with the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership (Regional Partnership) on the project submission and award process. With Quality of Place Capital Projects categorized as brick and mortar, additional READI funds will be awarded to Smart Connected Communities 2030 Strategic programming. For the program award process, the Regional Partnership – working through its established committee structure – is using a letter of inquiry process and collaborative meetings to support development of proposals by organizations.

READI encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will attract and retain talent in Indiana. The $500 million READI fund was passed by legislation during the 2021 session and was divided among 17 regions. The IEDC awarded the maximum grant amount of $50 million each to five of the regions, including the South Bend – Elkhart region. Awards for the other regions ranged from $5 to 30 million.

“As the regional convening organization, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership is delighted to see economic development thriving, and in great demand for the South Bend – Elkhart region,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “We received more than 50 applications for Quality of Place projects, and despite our region winning the maximum grant amount, the total request was over three times the amount of funds available to allocate. This is a tribute to the innovative growth-mindset of our region.”