Regional Economic Development Strategy Updates

In 2016, the Regional Development Authority convened a group of local leaders to conduct a situational analysis of the South Bend - Elkhart region. They created “A Plan for Prosperity, Growth and Inclusion Version 1.0,” which identified the following strategic drivers as the underlying principles for a comprehensive regional economic strategy: - Educating a world-class WORKFORCE. - Recruiting and retaining great TALENT. - Attracting and growing new economy companies in complement to our remarkably strong manufacturing INDUSTRIES. - Promoting INCLUSION and sparking opportunities for minorities. - Helping ENTREPRENEURS thrive. The “Regional Economic Development Strategy” plan was developed from these five key areas and represents input from hundreds of leaders across the region. Together, the community effectively developed its own plan to strengthen regional resiliency and jump-start economic growth in the South Bend – Elkhart region. The section that follows is comprised of updates and highlights on the Regional Economic Development Strategy between 2018 – 2020.