Old School Setting For Next Gen Industries

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg says the start of a massive redevelopment phase of the former Studebaker plant shows the "rich symbolism" of the city’s evolution. The auto company went out of business in 1963 and the property has been largely undeveloped ever since. Buttigieg says the facility has loomed over the city for decades as a reminder of lost industry, but the proposed transformation offers a "healthier" solution for the economy of the future.

You can hear more from our interview with Mayor Pete Buttigieg by clicking here.

"We’ve turned the corner from pining for the Studebaker days and really taken our future into our own hands," Buttigieg says. "All these folks are creating jobs in areas that are new, but their proven, right. We know that these are growing industries, even if they are on the cutting edge." The tenants that could begin moving in by the end of the summer include: Ireland-based CupPrint, a customized paper cup printer using higher-tech methods; enFocus, a nonprofit creating fellowship opportunities for recent graduates by partnering with local businesses; F Cubed (F3), a DNA-based molecular diagnostic device and test kit developer for environmental, medical and industrial clients; South Bend Code School, which provides technical training and web development skills; Trek10, a manager and developer of cloud-based computing systems for businesses.