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Introduction <br />Smart Growth America's Small -Scale Manufacturing and Place -Based Economic Development <br />program, a project in partnership with Recast City, is designed to help communities make strategic <br />land use decisions that will enhance small-scale manufacturing and improve economic <br />revitalization. This technical assistance, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, <br />guides communities to create policies and programs that will support local producers to grow their <br />businesses in target neighborhoods. <br />Communities requested technical assistance and were selected through a competitive process by <br />Smart Growth America (SGA). Selected communities participated in a four -month project and <br />received a three-day community assessment, during which the project team conducted fieldwork <br />in the local subject area, in-depth interviews with small-scale manufacturers, and hosted <br />presentations and brainstorming sessions with local stakeholder focus groups. <br />The Smart Growth America technical assistance team made a site visit to South Bend, Indiana <br />from April 24 to 26, 2019. In addition to elected officials, city staff, and local producers, the <br />technical assistance team met with property owners, business leaders, entrepreneurs, developers, <br />financial institutions, educational institutions, and community members. The site visit began with a <br />tour of Vested Interest and group meetings with small-scale manufacturers and financial <br />institutions. Day one concluded with a tour and interview with a local candy producer and tour of <br />the focus area —the Sample Street Corridor. The team started day two with onsite business <br />interviews and a lunch meeting with the Elkhart Regional Partnership, South Bend Regional <br />Chamber, city staff, and local manufacturers. The second day included additional onsite business <br />interviews and meetings with property owners. A meeting with West Side Business Development <br />Center and community stakeholder forum conclued the trip. <br />The intent of the site visit was to meet with local businesses and community leaders, share <br />information about local opportunities and challenges, and to provide South Bend with a set of <br />steps to bring more small-scale manufacturing businesses onto the Sample Street Corridor. The <br />technical assistance was designed to build local capacity, support economic development and <br />planning efforts, examine development challenges, assist in potential policy changes, and help <br />coordinate among city agencies and partners. <br />This memo is a summary of the community workshop and on -site interviews. It includes an <br />assessment of existing conditions in South Bend, along with recommendations for strengthening <br />local small production businesses and supporting investment on the Sample Street Corridor as <br />well as other parts of the city. <br />Recommendations are focused on actions to: <br />1. Focus on building strong and diverse relationships <br />2. Refine zoning and permitting to allow and encourage small-scale manufacturing in existing <br />buildings <br />3. Create financing programs to support diverse owners of small-scale manufacturing <br />businesses and the property they use <br />4. Increase visibility and business development support for local small-scale manufacturing <br />5. Bring people together more <br />