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