The University of Notre Dame recently announced the next step for the emerging tech and talent district in South Bend.
The university is partnering with Washington, D.C.-based Ancora to develop the first phase of the project. Ancora is an investment management firm that supports the goals of colleges and universities.
The Tech and Talent District is a keystone of the city’s Downtown South Bend 2045 plan. The district will sit between the northeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard. It will serve as an intersection of research, industry and community, catalyzing job growth and advancing entrepreneurship in South Bend and the surrounding area.
The first phase of the project involves reimagining the vacant former South Bend Tribune building. Through adaptive reuse, the building will anchor the district along with a new research and office building at the northwest corner of Colfax and Main Street.
Notre Dame's collaboration with Ancora marks another sign of progress for the district after it received a $30 million grant from Lilly Endowment in August 2024. The district aims to draw research and talent to downtown South Bend, allowing for collaboration to advance applied research in data analytics, artificial intelligence and computing.
An array of community programs will compliment the district. Holy Cross College is developing a leadership and ethics training program. Notre Dame's South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program is expanding services for local innovators.
“The Region has taken tremendous strides in the past decade to advance a shared vision for a vibrant, more prosperous South Bend-Elkhart region,” said Shannon Cullinan, Notre Dame executive vice president, in a press release. “Ancora will help us build upon that momentum with this transformative community project, just as they have done in other emerging markets.”
Notre Dame’s strategic framework calls for further engagement to promote the economic and social well-being of the South Bend-Elkhart region.
“The partnership between the University of Notre Dame and Ancora will breathe new life into an area of downtown South Bend in need of reinvestment — bringing research, talent and community vision together into an exciting new district,” Caleb Bauer, city of South Bend executive director of community investment, said. “Notre Dame’s ambitious commitment to downtown continues to deepen the relationship between the university and our community.”
Pending additional design work, planning and collaboration with South Bend officials and stakeholders, work on the project is expected to commence sometime later this year.
