North Central Indiana RDA Approves Regional Cities Projects

The funding includes $5 million for the South Bend Blue Ways projec.

The Regional Development Authority for North Central Indiana has approved several projects for Regional Cities Initiative funding. The proposals include $5 million for a mixed-use development in Mishawaka and $9 million for the planned Elkhart Health Fitness Aquatics and Community Center.

The RDA is responsible for disbursing the $42 million in Regional Cities Initiative money awarded by the state. That funding can be used for up to 20 percent of a project’s total projected cost. The recommendations now go to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. for review and final approval.

The RDA Board voted to award funding for the following projects:

–$3.5 million for the reuse of the Studebaker Factory Phase 3 in South Bend’s Renaissance District, aiming to accelerate redevelopment efforts at the facility

–$399,000 for the IU South Bend/Elkhart Center Rehabilitation Sciences & Health Education Active Learning Lab, offering "direly needed" rehabilitation science graduate degrees through a partnership with IUPUI

–$5 million for the South Bend Blue Ways project, which is a series of public space improvements along the St. Joseph River in South Bend’s East Bank Village

–$5.2 million for The Mill at Ironworks Plaza in Mishawaka, which will include hundreds of luxury residential units as well as retail, restaurant and parking space

–$4.9 million for the Commerce Center Mixed-Use Development in South Bend, which will include a full-service grocery, pharmacy and residential and office space

–$800,000 for the South Shore Double-Tracking Project, aiming to improve connectivity with Chicago

–$532,000 for the ETHOS Science Innovation Center in Elkhart

–$2.7 million for the Market District SE: Retail and Multifamily project in Elkhart

–$1.9 million for The Goshen Theater restoration project in downtown Goshen

–$9 million for the Elkhart Health Fitness Aquatics and Community Center

–$1.7 million for the Housing Resurgence project in Marshall County

–$2 million for the Marshall County Wellness & Life Enhancement enrichment center

–$800,000 for the Marshall County Shell Buildings project

–$200,000 for the Lake Maxinkuckee Trail in Culver