26-09 Resolution Approving the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of South Bend, the County of St. Joseph, and the Michiana Area Council of Governments Establishing a Land Bank Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 36-7-38 et seq.

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SkSOUTH BEND REGIONAL CHAMBER Filed in Clerk's Office February 24,2026 Mar 20, 2026 St.Joseph County Council Bianca I muh, 227 W.Jefferson Boulevard City Clerk South Rend. IN South Bend, IN 46601 On behalf of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to express our support for the establishment of a Regional Land Bank to serve St.Joseph, Elkhart,and Marshall Counties. Vacant, abandoned,and deteriorated properties impose ongoing costs on neighborhoods, local governments, and the regional economy. Many of these parcels have already cycled through code enforcement and the County tax sale process without a successful transition to productive ownership. As a result,they remain trapped in a pattern of vacancy and decline that undermines neighborhood stability, public safety, and reinvestment efforts. A Regional Land Bank provides a structured, proven mechanism to address the hardest-to-resolve properties by acquiring,stabilizing,and repositioning them for responsible redevelopment. Land banks are widely used to return distressed properties to productive use, often in partnership with nonprofit housing developers and other responsible end users.This approach supports neighborhood revitalization,expands housing supply,and strengthens the local tax base over time. From both an economic development and fiscal perspective,the ongoing cost of vacancy is substantial. Vacant and distressed properties cost St.Joseph County an estimated $3,000 per property each year in recurring public expenses, underscoring the need for land bank intervention as a prudent, modest one- time investment to reduce long-term costs and support productive reuse. We are encouraged by the financial structure supporting this effort, including secured grant funding for startup and early operations,as well as a permanent endowment to support long-term sustainability. This framework positions the Regional Land Bank to operate responsibly while delivering measurable community benefit. The South Bend Regional Chamber views the Regional Land Bank as an important tool to support neighborhood stabilization, redevelopment,and the long-term economic health of the three-county region.We appreciate the County Council's leadership and consideration of this initiative. Sincerely, /l/X).-- ZA..... Jeff Rea, President/CEO South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce 101 N.MICHIGAN ST.,SUITE 300 I SOUTH BEND,IN 466011 574.234.0051 I sbrchamber.com