St. Joseph County Housing Consortium

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FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan City of South Bend, IN • Underemployment is common in the area and it is difficult to target these individuals. There is the potential to assist these workers with partnerships between employers and job trainers. • There is a need for more diverse suppliers in the region.The City has committed to diversifying its suppliers and hiring more M/WBEs,but a lack of MBE/WBEs is a challenge to this commitment. • The public education system in South Bend needs to be improved. Area graduates are at a disadvantage of finding employment due to a lack of job skills. • South Bend experiences outmigration of educated workers that graduate from Notre Dame. • Workforce development training is not particularly flexible in terms of timing. This creates difficulties for those that may be working or caring for children during training times. • High interest rates have deterred businesses from borrowing or seeking loans. • Ex-offenders struggle to find employment.There is a need to assist these individuals in overcoming barriers to employment and providing training so they can re-enter the workforce. Describe any major changes that may have an economic impact, such as planned local or regional public or private sector investments or initiatives that have affected or may affect job and business growth opportunities during the planning period. Describe any needs for workforce development, business support or infrastructure these changes may create. There are planned developments for a warehouse/distribution center and an EV-battery plant in the western portion of St. Joseph County. While these facilities will not be located in the City of South Bend. These developments may increase job and population growth in the City of South Bend. How do the skills and education of the current workforce correspond to employment opportunities in the jurisdiction? The unemployment rate for the City of South Bend is 6.0% which is higher than St. Joseph County's unemployment rate of 4.9%,but lower than the City of Mishawaka which is 6.9%.The unemployment rate for ages 20-24 and 35-44 are experiencing the highest unemployment at 7.8% and 7.9%. All other age ranges are experiencing smaller unemployment rates than the City's. Unemployment across education attainment is relatively consistent with no group experiencing an overwhelming difference in unemployment. Describe any current workforce training initiatives,including those supported by Workforce Investment Boards, community colleges and other organizations. Describe how these efforts will support the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan. The City of South Bend's Workforce Development Agency partners with the area Chamber of Commerce to provide job training resources.The Workforce Development Agency runs the UpSkill SB Program which provides bi-annual opportunities to train high school graduates in business,information&technology, and healthcare sectors. The City of South Bend and the St.Joseph Housing Consortium have identified Economic Development as a priority need. The City of South Bend will identify opportunities to provide low- and moderate-income persons with jobs. This will be accomplished through the identified goals: OMB Control No:2506-0117(exp.07/31/2025) 116