The Indiana Economic Development Corp. awarded $9.15 million for five projects in the South Bend-Elkhart area.
The Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative awards are a part of at $1.25 billion investment in 15 regions throughout the state.
Each region developed an arts and culture plan, including South Bend-Elkhart. Local leaders worked with consulting firm Designing Local to conduct a public survey. A steering committee was then developed to draft a plan. That plan was brought to the community for feedback at workshops. The Northern Indiana Regional Development Authority approved the plan in December.
The region submitted 34 applications for projects that totaled $400 million. Projects ranged from $3,000 to $19 million.
“These awards tell a story about how our region works,” said Bethany Hartley, president and CEO of the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership, in a press release. “Every READI Arts & Culture dollar coming into South Bend-Elkhart is matched by 10 more from local and private partners, which is the highest leverage of any region in Indiana and represents more than $100 million in potential investment. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because our communities built an arts and culture plan together and then put real skin in the game. From the potential transformation of the State Theater to the Freight Street District to a new bandshell at Howard Park, these are projects our residents will feel in their daily lives, and they're proof that investing in creativity is investing in economic growth.”
The following projects received funding:
- Historic State Theater South Bend Transformation, Community Foundation of St. Joseph County – $4 million
- Howard Park Bandshell, City of South Bend – $3 million
- Freight Street District Initiative, City of Elkhart – $1.5 million
- Music Town, Visit South Bend Mishawaka – $350,000
- Northern Indiana Clay Center, Northern Indiana Clay Alliance – $300,000
The initiative funded 49 projects across all 15 Indiana regions. Grants totaled $62.3 million. Learn more about the READI 2.0 2026 Arts & Culture Awards here.
