04-07-10 70% see hopeful economic future for South Bend

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According to the survey, 56.5 percent of residents are aware Ignition Park, compared with 40.5 percent in 2009. The increased awareness of Ignition Park exceeded increased awareness levels for both its sister campus, Innovation Park at Notre Dame and for MIND, the Midwest Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery, each of which experienced more modest increases in awareness levels. In addition, 45 percent of residents say Ignition Park is important or very important to the future of South Bend’s economy. “We are very pleased with the growth of public awareness of Ignition Park and hope that experience will continue as the final Studebaker buildings on the site are demolished in 2010 and 2011,” Luecke said. The survey results serve as a measurement of the effectiveness of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission’s contract with The Blue Waters Group, a communications firm hired to help promote Ignition Park and other research-based economic development efforts. Patrick Strickler, president of the firm, will report on its 2009-10 activity during the Redevelopment Commission’s meeting. In other survey results, ? Nearly 83 percent of residents said South Bend’s relationship with the University of Notre Dame is beneficial to the area’s economy. ? Nearly 73 percent of residents have access to the Internet at home. ? There is a significant gender gap in awareness of Ignition Park, Innovation Park and MIND. Men are statistically more likely to be aware of these technology- related initiatives than women. The telephone survey of 400 adults living in the city of South Bend was conducted Feb. 25, 2010. It has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent. - 30 -