2022 Annual Report

Theme 2022: Dark Fiber Bright Future

Higher education and tier-1 research. Advanced robotics and smart manufacturing. Dark fiber and superior capacity. A mindset focused on the future of the South Bend - Elkhart region and the midwest. Forward is the way.

WHO WE ARE

*Denotes Former Employee

Aidan Battista* Coordinator, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem

Lisa Buchanan Director, Education & Workforce Solutions

Dan Buckenmeyer* Sr. Specialist, Economic Development

Lori Flotow Manager, Office Operations

Liz Folkerts Manager, Digital Marketing & Public Relations

Taryn MacFarlane Vice President, Regional Initiatives

Sarah Niespodziany Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Jill Scicchitano Chief Operations Officer

Bianca Tirado* Director, Strategic Initiatives

Bethany Hartley President & CEO

WHAT WE DO

The South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership is a collaboration of economic development partners from 47 smart connected communities in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.

We serve as a single point of contact for regional communication and seek to create economic opportunities for all partner members through our four C’s: convening, conveying, monitoring and communicating, and catalyzing through focused investment.

LIFT INITIATIVE

The Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) initiative was established to formally connect and enhance the region’s innovation, R&D, workforce training, and educational assets and resources to support industry advancement.

WE+YOU

Our regional talent attraction brand, focused on intentional attraction and retention of talent in the South Bend – Elkhart region, focused on people with potential or current high wage, high demand careers of the future.

STARTUP SOUTH BEND – ELKHART CATALYZE

Focused on promoting and fostering our region’s entrepreneurial network through ecosystem building. We work to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit and culture in the region, identify and nurture new business startups, and support the growth of existing high potential businesses.

Focus investment to drive economic and community development, partnering to develop innovative solutions to fill resource gaps. These solutions help to advance community and economic development.

CONVENE

We bring together diverse groups of regional representatives to develop strategies that inform and influence the direction of this region. We work to build consensus and foster collaboration to make things happen.

CONVEY

The regional opportunity, we market the region with a unified voice to job creators and talent, advancing the regional economy and driving strategic investments.

COMMUNICATE

Monitor and communicate progress, opportunities, and challenges as they relate to regional economic performance. We provide research insights on regional competitiveness and economic conditions that have the power to drive strategic directives for the consortium of organizations and leaders engaged in the region.

2018

Regional Economic Development Strategy

Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) Plan developed to catalyze economic growth

South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership

Rebranded from “Michiana” to South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership

Startup South Bend - Elkhart named Elevate Ventures’ 2018 “Region of the Year”

Advisory Committees & Strategic Initiatives

Development of five Advisory Committees and priorities identified

Indiana Regional Cities Initiative

Established Regional Development Authority (RDA)

$42 Million Grant from Regional Cities Initiative

Talent Attraction

21st Century Talent Region Designation

Launch of Regional Brand, WE+YOU

Smart Connected Communities

$50 Million grant from Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI)

Consistency Over Time

$42.2 Million Grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Startup South Bend - Elkhart named Elevate Ventures’ 2019 “Region of the Year”

LIFT Initiative Established

Bethany Hartley named South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership CEO

NEW CEO NAMED

FEATURED STORIES OF 2022

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH EACH OF THE AMAZING VIDEOS

As part of the 2022 Annual Report, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership wanted to not only tell the story of the region, but show you – the sights, sounds and people – that make this area a wonderful place to work, live, and explore.

We hope you enjoy these three videos showcasing our work around the region.

COMMUNICATE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP OVERVIEW

Join our President and CEO, Bethany Hartley for a look into the passion and ethos at the heart of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. We are committed to being the conduit for convening and connecting across the region, and amplifying the message of what this region is becoming.

WE believe we can keep educated talent here, WE can increase our region’s per capita personal income, and WE can build a regional economy that is both collaborative and inclusive.

Join us in the work to turn our potential into our future.

READI FUNDS IMPACTING OUR REGION

Through a collaborative process engaging leaders from across the region, the South Bend – Elkhart region was awarded the maximum amount of READI funds from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) – $50 million –in December 2021. In 2022, the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority awarded funds to 18 Quality of Place and 11 programmatic projects. These allocations will have an impact reaching far beyond city limits or county lines.

One such project, the Tolson Center for Community Excellence in Elkhart County, received $2.6 million in READI funds. The Tolson Center represents the remarkable next chapter of a long-standing community center.

CONVENE

LIFT INTERNSHIPS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Paul Geiger knows what it takes to have a successful internship. A graduate from the LIFT Initiative Internship Program, he continued his career at Robert Weed Corp. as an HR Business Analyst.

Funded via the Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) Initiative grant, the LIFT Internship Program brings together students from regional colleges and universities to internships at local companies focused on advanced industries such as technology, manufacturing, data science and analytics, supply chain or logistics management, and research and development.

RESULTS: 22 IN 2022

Together with our stakeholders, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership reached new heights in 2022. From grants awarded to stories told, here is an assortment of successes from the past year:

310,477 SOCIAL IMPRESSIONS

Across all social media, a 73.26% increase over 2021

13% WEBSITE EXPOSURE increased

89.8% AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT

Across Facebook, LinkedIn, & Twitter from 2021

increased increased

265% WEBSITE EXPOSURE

To counties outside the South Bend-Elkhart region

50,000+ VIDEO IMPRESSIONS

To adults between the age of 18 and 24 Highlighting community initiatives

55,000+ ADS PLAYED

Via Facebook, detailing community initiatives

$14.2M in Pre-Seed & Seed Round funding awarded to regional startups

250+ Attended the 2nd annual Founder Factory event, sold out for the 2nd time

50+ meetings hosted with 13 unique stakeholder groups & hundreds of regional decision-makers

18

WE+YOU Welcome Crew members onboarded to launch ambassador program

$7.2M in SBIR & STTR Grants awarded to regional companies

$41,000 in Proof-of-Concept Funds awarded

$5.3M+ Manufacturing Readiness Grants awarded to 45 Regional Companies in 2022

11 Graduates from the HustleSBE Business Bootcamp

13 U.S. Business Recruitment trips attended across 5,050 miles in 5 states

Region’s

1st Labor Market Study Completed

3

Video profiles of residents produced generating 17,200+ views across media platforms

33 LIFT Interns representing 11 colleges & universities were placed with 29 employers in 10 occupational pathways

$40.6M in READI Funds awarded to 19 quality-of-place projects infusing $465M+ in regional investments

$6.4M in READI Funds awarded to 11 programmatic projects

20

107 registered employees

Launched LIFT Skills Accelerator with & $160,500 in funds distributed

LIFT Apprentices placed with 7 employers through the LIFT Apprenticeship Program

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership Foundation Board

Pete McCown

Chair President Community Foundation of Elkhart County

Jeff Rea Vice Chair

President & CEO

South Bend Regional Chamber

Michael Daigle Treasurer

Executive Director South Bend International Airport

Tim Sexton Secretary

Associate Vice President for Public Affairs

University of Notre Dame

South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership Board

Committee Representatives

Susan Ford Entrepreneurship Director

Graham Allen Partners

Rebecca Stoltzfus

Education & Workforce President Goshen College

Shelley Klug Industry Growth Economic Development Manager Indiana Michigan Power

Andrew Wiand Talent Attraction & Retention Executive Director enFocus

Local Economic Development Organizations (LEDOs)

Greg Hildebrand Secretary*

President & CEO Marshall County Economic Development Corporation

Local Government

Carl Baxmeyer

Commissioner St. Joseph County

Board of Commissioners

Jeff Rea Vice Chair* President & CEO South Bend Regional Chamber

Amish Shah

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

President & CEO

Kem Krest

Kevin Overmyer Commissioner Marshall County Board of Commissioners

Chris Stager

President Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County

Suzanne Weirick

Public Representative* Commissioner Elkhart County Board of Commissioners

Private Industry

Shannon Cullinan

Member*

Executive Vice President

University of Notre Dame

Jim Keenan

Board Chair

Judd Leighton Foundation

Gary Neidig

President & CEO ITAMCO

Stakeholders

Dave Behr

Director, North Central Region Indiana Economic Development Corporation

James Turnwald

Executive Director Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG)

Michael Daigle

Treasurer*

Executive Director

South Bend International Airport

Pete McCown

Chair*

President

Community Foundation of Elkhart County

Kristin Pruitt

Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Lake City Bank

Jon Hunsberger

Executive Director Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Larry Garatoni

CEO

Garatoni Family Office

Rose Meissner

President

Community Foundation of St. Joseph County

Andrea Short

President 1st Source Bank

Levon Johnson

President

Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce

*Denotes Executive Committee Member

THANK YOU, INVESTORS

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership has more than investors. These organizations are part of the communities that make up our region. Our actions impact their lives on a daily basis, and their continued support shows the value in what we do – together.

Community Foundations

Higher Education

Marian University’s Ancilla College

Bethel University

Goshen College

Holy Cross College

Indiana University South Bend

Ivy Tech Community College

Purdue Polytechnic Saint Mary’s College

University of Notre Dame

Local Economic Development Organizations (LEDOs)

Business Development Corporation

Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County

Local Government

City of Elkhart

City of Goshen

City of Mishawaka

Private Sector

1st Source Foundation

Beacon Health System

Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation

Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce

Marshall County Economic Development Corporation

South Bend Regional Chamber

City of Nappanee

City of Plymouth

City of South Bend

Elkhart County

Marshall County

St. Joseph County

Judd Leighton Foundation

Kem Krest

Lake City Bank

Utilities & Transportation

Weigand Construction

Winnebago Foundation

South Bend International Airport

Marshall County Community Foundation

Community Foundation of St. Joseph County

Community Foundation of Elkhart County