The Regional Partnership focuses on aligning the efforts of various stakeholders and encouraging communities across the region to work together to achieve what cannot be done individually
The South Bend - Elkhart Region is a collaboration of the economic development partners from Elkhart, St. Joseph and Marshall counties in Northern Indiana and Berrien and Cass counties in Southwest Michigan (together, “South Bend - Elkhart Region”). The organization serves as a single point of contact for regional communication and seeks to create economic opportunities for all partner members through collaborative promotion, marketing and capacity building efforts.
The South Bend - Elkhart Region is also serving as the Administrator for the newly formed Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority – which consists of and leverages the vast experience and services of business, academic, philanthropic and government leaders working to transform the region by improving quality of life and spurring population growth.
The primary focus of the South Bend - Elkhart Region has been collaborative branding and business recruitment efforts to attract new jobs and investments by leveraging the individual strengths, competitive advantages, knowledge, and resources of the region. Partners recognized that by banding together, they could offer a broader range of services, benefits, and competitive advantages to better position the region when marketing to national and international entities. Partners also recognize that they have more to gain by working together than separately. They understand that a “win” for a particular part of the region is, in many ways, a “win” for all partners and the region. We have also focused on Developing research tools and assistance and administration/governance for regional efforts.
