South Bend, Ind. (July 29, 2025) – The South Bend – Elkhart region has distributed more than 72 percent of its Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) 1.0 funds to projects, exceeding the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s (IEDC) milestone of 65 percent disbursement of the region’s total allocation. The IEDC requires a region to reach this mark before any READI 2.0 funds can be drawn down.  

“Surpassing 72 percent of READI 1.0 disbursement is a clear sign of the incredible progress we’ve made as a region,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “These investments are already transforming communities, driving private development, and improving quality of life across Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph counties. Hitting this milestone shows that our collaborative approach is working, and it builds even greater momentum as we move forward with the next phase of projects under READI 2.0.” 

This totals more than $35 million of the awarded $50 million READI 1.0 funds invested in the South Bend – Elkhart region. In total, the READI 1.0 funds are anticipated to leverage an additional $448 million in private and public funding. Potawatomi Zoo was the first READI 1.0 project in the region to draw the entirety of its READI award. The $1.07 million grant was put toward the $6.2 million Concession Lodge and Black Bear Habitat.  

Last year, the South Bend – Elkhart region was the recipient of $45 million in READI 2.0 funds. The Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) preliminarily selected 13 projects in December to move forward for final  IEDCapproval. With the READI 1.0 milestone reached, the IEDC is currently reviewing READI 2.0 projects. 

For more information on the South Bend – Elkhart region’s READI activities, click here.  

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About South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership 

The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, communities across the region can work collectively to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org. 

About the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Development Authority (RDA) 

Formed in 2015, the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Development Authority (RDA) represents the three Indiana counties of Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph. The RDA is overseen by a five-member board, each appointed by the mayors and commissioners of member counties and municipalities. The RDA is committed to the continued improvement of the South Bend – Elkhart region and receives staffing support from the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership, the lead regional economic development organization for the region. For more information about RDA, click here.