Happy Thursday!

We look forward to sharing the good news with you every month! If you want more than just a monthly update, visit the  News page  of our website or follow us on social media.
All 26 Regional Cities Projects Have Received IEDC Approval
As of September 2018, all 26 of the South bend - Elkhart Region's Regional Cities Initiative projects have been approved by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Communities across the region are breaking ground and cutting ribbons on projects that will enhance and enrich our region's arts, culture, recreation, innovation and connectivity. Learn More.
Another Regional Cities Project Breaks Ground
Last month South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Regional Development Authority (RDA) board member, Dallas Bergl and state officials joined Potawatomi Zoological Society executives to break ground on the first phase of the Potawatomi Zoo's $37 million master plan. The master plan address the Zoo's needs to improve visitor experience, guest circulation and flow, increase revenue opportunities and bolster its position as a community asset and regional attraction.
Read the Full Press Release.
Jill Scicchitano Earns Scholarship to National ED Conference
South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership Director of Industry Growth Initiatives, Jill Scicchitano was recently named one of the 2018 recipients for the annual Bob Ady Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipients receive registration to the 2018 Competitiveness Conference & Site Selector Forum to be held December 2-4, 2018 in Chicago, along with reimbursement of some travel expenses. There were 10 scholarship winners named.  Read Full Press Release .
Stimulate Long-term Economic Prosperity in the Region
Last month, the South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership convened more than 100 community leaders from across the region for the biannual Regional Opportunities Forum. Here, TEConomy Partners presented the Tides of Change: Critical Investments Needed to Stimulate Long-term Economic Prosperity in the South Bend - Elkhart Region report. TEConomy Partners were engaged to help build on the framework developed in the Regional Economic Development Strategy plan by identifying specific Industry Growth strategies that would leverage our region's unique industrial, academic, and technology assets.
Average Hourly Wage Growth Rate Showing Positive Trend
Garner Economics recently reported growth in average hourly wages nationally, but how does the South Bend - Elkhart Region compare? In their September 2018 Summary, Garner Economics highlights trends in state and metro average hourly earnings based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics spanning a 5-year range from August 2013 - 2018.

State-wide, Indiana and Michigan reflect a positive change of 4.5% and 3.9% respectively in average hourly earnings growth after inflation adjustments concerning total private industry. While regionally there is a positive regional trend of a 2.47% increase, we can take a further look at how each metro is performing. From reported data, Elkhart-Goshen, IN shows a positive change of 5.3% from $22.82 to $24.03 or an overall increase of $1.21 and Niles-Benton Harbor, MI poses an encouraging trend with a 3.9% increase from $19.73 in 2013 to $20.50 in 2018, for a total increase of $.0.77. South Bend - Mishawka, IN over the same period shows a negative change of -1.8% with average hourly wages of $24.20 decreasing to $23.77 in 2018 with an overall change of (-$0.43). Learn More.
Elkhart RV Open House Sees Strong Dealer Traffic
Last week, the recreational vehicle industry completed its largest event for dealer orders and manufacturers are assessing their volume of sales. During the Elkhart RV Open House, manufactures hosted more than 5,000 RV dealers from across North America. Every year, the new RV models are introduced to dealers at the Open House. The largest RV companies, including Thor Industries, Forest River and Winnebago, lease ground or utilize their existing facilities along C.R. 6, to display thousands of every type of RV they make. Read More.
Thor Industries Set to Become Largest RV Maker in the World
According to Inside Indiana Business, Elkhart-based Thor Industries Inc. (NYSE: THO) has announced an agreement to acquire a German recreational vehicle manufacturer for approximately $2.4 billion. Once complete, Thor says the deal for Erwin Hymer Group SE will create the world's largest RV maker. EHG currently employs more than 7,300 globally and its RVs are sold through a network of over 1,200 retailers. The companies say they expect no change in employee headcount or number of facilities as a result of the acquisition. Read More.
Indiana Tax Climate Tops Midwest
Indiana's tax system is once again among the top in the nation. The Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation's 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks Indiana 10th for its overall tax climate and number one in the Midwest. Michigan was not far behind, ranking 13th overall. The Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index enables business leaders, government policymakers, and taxpayers to gauge how their states' tax systems compare. To view the full 2019 State Business Tax Climate Index, Click Here.
Patrick Continues Acquisition Momentum
Elkhart-based Patrick Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: PATK) has completed its acquisition of a South Carolina-based manufacturer. This is the 7th acquisition for Patrick in 2018. The company's previous deals include the acquisitions of Marine Accessories Corp., Dowco Inc., Dehco Inc., Collins & Co., Indiana Marine Products, and Aluminum Metals Co. LLC. Read More.
Manufacturer to Start Up in Plymouth, IN
Marshall County continues to be preferred location for business expansions in the South Bend - Elkhart Region. Winona Building Products LLC will be upgrading the former Del Monte plant in Plymouth to support more than four manufacturing lines by 2022. In the next three months, approximately $9 million of Line 1 equipment and building improvements will be installed for a November 2018 product launch. A total of 40 new jobs will be created by the first quarter of 2019 and will total more than 150 in four years.
Marshall County Recipient of OCRA Broadband Planning Grant
Last Month, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs ( OCRA) and the director of broadband opportunities announced that Marshall County and four other rural Indiana communities will receive funding as a part of the Broadband Readiness Planning Grant. Each community will receive $50,000 as a part of the Community Development Block Grant program to develop a plan that will educate, create and identify ways to improve broadband speeds in their area.  Read Full Press Release.
Startup South Bend - Elkhart News
Want to stay up-to-date on all the exciting things happening in and around this region's entrepreneurial ecosystem? If so, Click Here to view the latest update from Startup South Bend - Elkhart. More resources, new and events related to entrepreneurship are available on the Startup South Bend - Elkhart website,  StartupSouthBendElkhart.com.
New Business Center Aims to Lift Minority Entrepreneurs
There are considerable efforts underway to help the region become more entrepreneurial, but very few, if any, of those efforts have been targeted at the minority community in the South Bend area. So a coalition of nonprofit organizations in conjunction with the city took the first step by opening the West Side Small Business Resource Center. Read More.
Manufacturing Day 2018
Manufacturing Day is coming up in counties across the South Bend - Elkhart Region. Manufacturers will open their doors to the community to celebrate Manufacturing Day 2018 and show what really goes on in today's manufacturing sector. This annual event provides area high school students the opportunity to visit local manufacturers, explore educational and career opportunities in our region, and witness firsthand how their classroom learning today is building a foundation for their future success. To find events in your area, Click Here.
YP Summit: October 9th
The half-day professional development conference for young professionals, ages 21-39, is less than a week away! Join other young professionals at the inaugural YP Summit, featuring two high-energy keynotes and the chance to attend two breakout sessions, choosing from four topics. Stay after for the wrap-up networking reception to connect with your peers. Space is limited, Register Today.
Coffee & Conversations: Purdue Polytechnic South Bend
Start your day with Coffee & Conversations at Purdue Polytechnic South Bend's new location in the Studebaker Renaissance District. Join fellow South Bend Regional Chamber members to make key connections with other business professionals in the community check out this Regional Cities Initiative project! Register.
Employer-Led Solutions  Addressing  Workforce Needs
Join Darrel Zeck and Carrie Lively from the Office of Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship on October 11th at the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce as they answer a variety of work-based learning questions. To RSVP, Click Here.