In 2024, the region secured $45 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 2.0 grant funding through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) – a powerful follow-up to the $50 million READI 1.0 funds awarded in 2021, and the $42 million Regional Cities Initiative grant in 2015. The new funds, part of former Governor Eric Holcomb’s $500 million statewide initiative, will support projects aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods, boosting housing, improving public amenities, and building the kinds of places where people want to live and work.

“We’re ecstatic that the IEDC recognizes the work being done in the South Bend – Elkhart region,” said John DeSalle, Chair of the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority. “We will continue to be good stewards of these funds and ensure they deliver real impact for residents in Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties.”

But this isn’t the beginning of the story. It’s the next bold chapter.

Chapter 1: Regional Cities Initiative

The South Bend – Elkhart region’s journey toward regional development began with the Regional Cities Initiative (RCI) in 2015. As one of just three regions selected statewide to receive $42 million in matching funds, the region began unprecedented collaboration between Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties, leading to the establishment of the Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA). The RDA became instrumental in coordinating regional efforts, setting the stage for future initiatives like READI.

The impact of RCI is visible in transformative projects across the region. South Bend’s Renaissance District, once the crumbling Studebaker factory complex, is now home to a growing tech campus and innovation hub. In Marshall County, the Culver Sand Hill Farm workforce housing project addressed a major barrier to talent retention in rural communities. The Beacon Health and Aquatic Center in Elkhart brought the community a 171,000-square-foot wellness facility with a larger-than-Olympic-sized pool that is capable of hosting major competitions.

RCI also helped launch key recreational and cultural amenities, including the Howard Park redevelopment in South Bend, the Hotel Elkhart restoration in downtown Elkhart, and the REES Theatre refurbishment in Plymouth. These projects collectively raised the region’s profile as a dynamic and livable place, reinforcing its readiness for continued growth under the READI program.
The Regional Cities Initiative didn’t just build infrastructure – it built trust, alignment, and a shared identity. It proved that regional collaboration works and laid the groundwork for the South Bend – Elkhart region to become a model for integrated, long-term development.

Chapter 2: READI 1.0

With the lessons learned from RCI, the region developed the Smart Connected Communities 2030 Plan, which outlined the region’s plan for further development. This led to the South Bend – Elkhart region being named one of five regions awarded the maximum amount – $50M – of READI 1.0 funds in 2021. That first round of READI funding helped launch or accelerate 28 projects and programs, generating more than $448 million in additional public and private investment. Projects touched every corner of the region and tackled critical needs from housing to innovation.

Projects like the Tolson Center for Community Excellence in Elkhart, the Elkhart River District and the Potawatomi Zoo expansion in South Bend were among the first to bring READI 1.0’s promise to life. The Tolson Center now serves as a vital community anchor for youth and recreation in a historically underserved area, while the River District revitalization brought new life to the city’s urban core with mixed-use development, dining, and residential options. The zoo’s new Lodge Café and Andean Bear Habitat has solidified the state’s oldest zoo as a regional tourism destination.
From the Madison Lifestyle District in South Bend to the Mishawaka Fieldhouse to the Wellfield Botanic Gardens’ new Visitor Center in Elkhart, these projects are reshaping the physical landscape and city skylines.

Together, they showed that the South Bend – Elkhart region could build on what was started to create vibrant, livable communities that attract talent and investment.

Chapter 3: READI 2.0

Building on the momentum of 10 years of collaboration, the IEDC awarded the South Bend – Elkhart region $45 million in READI 2.0 funding. The region looks to preliminarily power 13 projects, which are awaiting state approval. Project highlights include:

• Elkhart River District 2.0 – Adding 284 residences, office and retail space, and public art in a thriving downtown district.
• Bremen Growth – Building a 3-mile greenway trail connecting parks to development sites, and the town’s first new housing development in over 20 years.
• Western Avenue Transformation District – A 208-unit mixed-income housing development in South Bend with green space and inclusive design.
• Cherry Creek – A walkable, mixed-use neighborhood in Goshen with housing, retail, and on-site childcare.
• New Carlisle 2.0 – Downtown revitalization through recreation and accessibility upgrades, including renovated tennis courts, four new pickleball courts, an ADA pathway, and alley beautification projects that foster walkability and community gathering spaces.
• 100 Center Revitalization – A $41.5 million transformation of Mishawaka’s historic brewery into a residential, commercial, and entertainment destination.

All told, these projects will unlock $613 million in regional investment and address long-standing community needs.
The RDA’s efforts are not just about grants – they are about creating a shared vision across cities, counties, and sectors. The South Bend – Elkhart region has consistently shown what’s possible when collaboration, strategy, and community voice come together. And with READI 2.0 now in motion, the page is turning on another wave of transformation.

“This isn’t just about buildings or roads,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “It’s about creating a community where quality of life flourishes – where every investment reflects the talent, ambition, and resilience of the people who live here. It’s about ensuring that opportunity, wellbeing, and pride are built into the foundation of everyday life.”

To learn more about the South Bend – Elkhart region’s READI initiatives and projects, visit: https://southbendelkhart.org/get-readi/