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Home My WebLink About2018 Community Investment Annual Report -'SOUTH 84, 4. *offp1,4,11 .:1--------_,.1 1865 CITY OF SOUTH BEND Department of Community Investment 2018 ANNUAL REPORT The Department of Community Investment experienced significant personnel changes in 2017, including several changes at its leadership level. By the end of the year, a new organizational structure took shape, nearly reaching a full staff that hit the ground running to advance the ambitious goals set in 2018. Changes included: • Adding Historic Preservation staff(2)to the Planning and Community Resources team • Changing Assistant Executive Director position to Director of Engagement and Economic Empowerment and repurposing an Associate position to Economic Empowerment Specialist • Shifting of property development group from previous Economic Resources team to Planning and Community Resources team • Retaining of 2 DCI staff positions in budget that have dotted line reporting to A/F(Financial Specialist III) and I&T(Business Analyst)as long-term needs identified Key goals set for 2019 1. Advance neighborhood development program, move more vacant lots to valuable uses 2. Implement processes associated with new organizational structure 3. Continue implementation of West Side Main Streets,SE Master, and City Cemetery plans 4. Zoning reform 5. Improve engagement and information sharing, including better accessibility of information online(e.g. city property database) 6. Pilot economic empowerment programs 7. Increase focus of business development team on small business and workforce development 8. Increase connectivity of neighborhoods to and around downtown Filed in Clerk's Office FEB 01 2019 KAREEMAH FOWLER CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN Principal Planners(2)and Senior Planner Complete Streets Policy Zoning and Land Use Properties Planning and Community Property Development Brownfields Resources Manager and Analyst Neighborhood Planning Corridor and Transportation Planning Historic Preservation Historic Preservation Specialist and Admin Asst. Neighborhood Outreach Community Program Marketing Engagement and Economic Economic Empowerment Neighborhood Resource Connection(NRC) Empowerment Specialist Schools Health/Food Policy -- - Inclusive Community Support Staff:A/F,PW,1&T, Housing Counselor and Legal Administrative Assistant Neighborhood Development Financing/Fund Land Bank Liaison Executive Director Neighborhood Grants CDC's Manager Neighborhood Plan Implementation Neighborhood Deveiopmen SBHA Homelessness Executive Assistant and Grants Management/Development Director of Special Projects incentives Lead Housing Counseling Neighborhood Program UEA Specialist Business License Small Business Development Administrator Economic Growth Job Creation Entrepreneurship Business Development Business Licensing Business Development Managers(2) Business Outreach Business Program Marketing Tax Abatements and Incentives IRF Business Development Facade Grants Specialist Workforce Development/Pathways BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 489 JOBS were announced in conjunction with City-supported and approved projects. A significant ripple effect of indirect employment gains can be expected to provide well over 500 new jobs in 2019. $106,900,000 IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT was announced in our community The Breakdown of South Bend's Community Investments includes: $20,538,365.00 in TIF supporting development, infrastructure and jobs $4,265,818.00 in Tax Abatements to support growth and jobs in our business community $1,500,000.00 in IRF loans made in 2018 to assist growing businesses in South Bend UNEMPLOYMENT hovered around 3.5%for the entirety of 2018, ending the year closer to 3.7%. This is a dramatic decrease in unemployment from the previous decade that saw rates as high as 14%in 2010. The Department of Community Investment works diligently to contribute in decreases of unemployment through our direct investments in the employers, infrastructure, and businesses in the community. More directly, DCI manages the Mayor's Pathways workforce development program,which provides grants to qualifying residents to increase their skills to move up or into new careers. 177 South Bend Residents advanced their careers through Pathways grants for higher paying jobs and improve their quality of life thanks to the City of South Bend. 2 Construction Permits, another indicator of growth and progress, continued its growth from last year with significant private investment in new construction throughout the city There was continued growth in new residential units in the South Bend downtown. Downtown development continued growth in 2018, with the ground breaking of the 10 story 144 apartment and supermarket, East Bank Flats;as well as the 100-foot-tall Three Twenty at the Cascade, which is one of the tallest structures built in downtown South Bend in over two decades. The Three Twenty at the Cascade also features 18 high-end condominiums ranging from one half to one million per unit. • L11 i[ [k`g q � ,�-\`� ��,� •'ate `4 \` v t \ -411R sem W.$ S � ' nn >_ South Bend's Industrial Revolving Fund continued to drive growth by providing low-interest loans to South Bend businesses. In 2018, IRF made two new loans representing$1.5 million in outstanding funds.These two projects will create at least 35 full-time permanent jobs in South Bend.Since the fund's inception in 1975, it has successfully grown from the original $5 million to almost$7 million and made 158 loans total, representing nearly$46 million in IRF loan funds and leveraging nearly$130 million in private investment. It is now over 40 years since the original grant was awarded and we have met or exceeded the objectives of the original grant.We have demonstrated our ability to operate this fund in a fiscally and economically responsible manner.As a result, in 2018,the IRF was rated with a highest rating'A' by our regulator, Economic Development and Administration (EDA). PROJECTS Openings. Hibberd Building, Courtyard by Marriot, Embassy Suites,West Side Small Business Resource Center, CTDI, Holliday Inn Express Underway. Eddy Street Phase II, Ivy at Berlin Place, Studebaker Building 84, Commerce Center,Three Twenty at the Cascade,Aloft/Liberty Tower Phase II,Western Ave Dairy Queen, Menards South Side, River Walk Homes,JC Lauber,The Garage Announced. Franklin Street Technology Buildings,Jefferson & Main office building, Washington-Colfax Gemini Apartments,Technology Resource Center, Library Community Education Center 3 Facade Matching Grant Program. The success from investments in our key City corridors has led to the expansion of our Facade Grant program. In 2018 the Facade Matching Grant program expanded by the addition of two new corridors, Miami St as well as Mishawaka Ave.This expansion was in response to the need to build business, enhance, and attract business to some of the city's major corridors. The program offers businesses the chance to make improvements to their properties through facade enhancements while simultaneously creating an overall improved look of the corridor.The city will match business owners up to$25,000 for a project. Courtyard Marriot. Located in the heart of downtown South Bend on 121 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,the five-story hotel features an innovative lobby space and Courtyard's contemporary room design,with an aim to allow guests to optimize their travel experience.The new hotel's location offers convenient access to the University of Notre Dame,The Century Center,the HealthWorks Kids' Museum,the Morris Performing Arts Center and Four Winds Field. It is convenient to the South Bend International Airport and many of South Bends fabulous restaurants. This has been the first hotel built in downtown South Bend for 34 years. Ground breaking August 2016 and Grand Opening on May 22, 2018. 1 .�. I p tte:i. ------711 112 TO . • wit-- J_ J_�.. 1='1,4J.-0:11 iI . i . _ " a+".„AC'''. _ . '' 11•S ALJ[LJ. Lax i �e ��1G� � [ ilnlnpllll �r - - arra LI.(LJ[[LEL u t0. "..; i; _. ;;1t LI LE La LJ ILI Lila �4 Ilr E.it d t 4� J-=e :=Y f, +:sem uI.0 R t rut LI IL:A GLJI,Jr -I-. r n n ,A �q ro '-^ em^ .y _ ` ti Hibberd Plaza. The nearly$7 million redevelopment project is located downtown adjacent to the South Bend Public Library.The Hibberd, a mixed-use development that includes residential, commercial, and retail space, is the culmination of an effort to transform the nearly century-old former Hibberd Printing Co. building. Residents in the 14 apartments included in the redevelopment will also have access to amenities such as an on-site fitness center, rooftop deck and bar area, an outdoor plaza with the city's first bocce ball court, and adjacent parking. is z} ,. Q �� t gS a a I* .:1 1 r. Iil' prre V. 00 Iy4. III 111,0, 11§Iiiil' f m 1 r I ,,.u! 1, , a! 8111111 ..s,di 1 v I ill rig2. ,„01 „....�.. Iii �F un1r1itiliiiili ''''`'''''''"ill' aird +l1 '6 op ... p .t. rIP •-7v, 'tr 4 Case Studies in Community Investment: Tax Abatements Whenever a company looks to expand and/or relocate, communities take notice. A few hundred jobs can be transformative to a community and local municipalities often compete for these employers. While the City of South Bend will compete when it makes sense,our philosophy is more often centered on investment in local, loyal, growing companies. In 2018, DCI has assisted with over$69 million in private investment and over 500 new jobs on tax abatement projects while only contributing 4.2 million in public investment. Two great examples of the positive economic impact of Tax Abatements were with NFI and REW LLC. National Distribution Centers(NFI) considered relocating their businesses outside of South Bend. Because of the financial benefits of tax abatements,they were able to invest over$14 million in private investment and retain over 100 well paining jobs in South Bend. REW LLC is investing over$1.9 million in the construction of a new warehouse and office building to consolidate their business in South Bend.The financial benefits of the tax abatement helped REW LLC relocate 86 jobs and create 25 new jobs in South Bend. Homeowner/residency maintained through counseling 12 Mortgage Delinquency Cases closed 20 No. specific addresses/clients counseled 249 Purchase Assistance Renter to Homeowner 15 (14 Community Homebuyer Corporation) (CHC)closings/1 Triangle MIP) Acq/Rehabs completed 3 Rehab of owner-occupied properties 51 (SBHIP, RT and REAL Services) Neighborhood Plan Implementation/Grants Management/CDCs ■ Analysis of Residential Market Potential completed with public meetings—Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) process prioritized rental option and Analysis study areas ■ Three(3) new homes constructed and sold to low/mod beneficiaries-federal funds(NNRO,SBHF and 466 Works ■ Three(3)acquisition/rehabs completed and sold to low/mod beneficiaries-federal funds (SBHF, NNN) ■ Launched South Bend/UEA Home Repair Program receiving 110 applications ■ Resident Legal Assistance Program (RLAP)assisted 8 applicants through tax sale process for 20 vacant lots ■ Executed agreements with 466 Works and Cross Community Inc.for development of housing in Southeast and Near Northwest neighborhoods respectively ■ Housing Counseling ■ New Hardest Hit Funds contract with Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority(IHCDA)to assist eligible homeowners in default ■ 30 potential new homeowners completed pre-purchase housing counseling ■ Homelessness ■ Continued funding of Coordinated Entry(CE) position with CE implementation in place 5 ■ Coordinated City and federal funding with Center for the Homeless to add capability for additional 18 Permanent Supportive Housing(PSH) units ■ Continued funding of weather amnesty site in coordination with Hope Ministries ■ Lead ■ Began process IHCDA and homeowners/tenants applying for Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant funding ■ UEA ■ Facilitated transfer of Blight Elimination Properties(BEP) back to City after grant closeout ■ Facilitated Transfer of four(4) BEP properties to adjacent property owners • Continued management/improvements at Sample Street Business Complex (SSBC)with 39 businesses • Voluntary Remediation Program Work Plan approved by IDEM ■ Five(5)year renewal of Enterprise Zone through 2023 HISTORIC PRESERVATION ■ _Transition to City of South Bend: ■ Ordinance updated ■ Bylaws updated ■ Resolution 18-01 Establishing staff procedures for approval of routine maintenance exclusions ■ Resolution 18-03 Establishing "Administrative Approval"procedures authorizing staff to approve projects that are routine maintenance and minor projects that comply with the applicable standards and guidelines ■ Historic Designated properties brochure mailed to owners ■ Disposition of Assets: 1/3 progress made including prepping and sending 50 boxes of files to be digitized • St.Joseph County: Provided 209.25 hours of services ■ Work with other departments and teams of DCI to determine ways through which Historic Preservation can assist with the broader lead initiatives of the City. ■ Certificate of Appropriateness(COA): Processed 55 applications for Board review(48 in 2017) ■ Routine Maintenance Exclusion (RME):Approved 118 under Staff review(89 in 2017) • Section 106 Review: Processed 127 addresses for other City Departments(131 in 2017) ■ APRA Requests: Fulfilled 42 (87 in 2017) ■ Inspector: Represented HPC at 47 Code Hearings, reported 47 unauthorized projects on historic properties ■ Interns: Hosted 2 student interns and 2 volunteers totaling 630 volunteer hours(1 @ 147.25 hours in 2017) ■ Grants:Awarded $600 Indiana Landmarks grant to complete National Register nomination for City Cemetery ■ Heritage Tours: Guided 6 tours for 187 participants(309 in 2017) ■ Lou Sabo Collection of traditional black and white photographs:Artist donated 75 prints(totaling approximately 575) ■ Building South Bend: Past, Present and Future:Continued partnership with Notre Dame Architecture Library ■ Local Landmarks: Designated the Engman Natatorium (IUSB Civil Rights Heritage Center) ■ National Register of Historic Places:South Bend City Cemetery was officially listed 6 • Media: Interviewed for stories.nd.edu to highlight Building South Bend; interviewed for South Bend Tribune's South Bend Time Machine podcast; interviewed with WNDU regarding Leeper Park PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Properties Sold(closed on) ■ 333 W.Western ($96,660;former VA Clinic) ■ 117—131 S. Michigan St& 121 E. Wayne($625k; Michigan St.Shops&Wayne St Garage Retail Space) ■ 213—217 S. Main ($50k;SW corner Jefferson & Main; new 5 story office building) ■ 111 S. MLK($525k;former College Football Hall of Fame) Residential Vacant Lots: ■ 209 Meade ■ 306 Dubail ■ 1129 Lawrence ■ V/I LaSalle Ct ■ 616/618 Sherman Properties Through Disposition (not sold) ■ 900 Blk S. Lafayette($84k;former Hamilton Towing block;sale is pending) ■ 2401 Western (former PNA) ■ 1743 Commerce Dr ■ 1522—1536 Prairie ■ 900—1002 S. Lafayette Properties acquired ■ 620 W Marion (Marion/Scott target area) ■ City Cemetery related: o 211 N Elm o 1043, 1107-1109, 1119, and 1201 W Colfax Properties with acquisition agreements in place but not yet closed: ■ Vacant lot behind 740 S Michigan ■ Four lots in the Marion/Scott target area Lafayette Building ■ City acquired ownership in 2018 ■ New roof and parapet walls rebuilding completed ■ Skylight replacement and masonry repair/replacement contracts awarded Other Partnership Projects(where we did not have a property interest): • SBHF for the rehabilitation of the Washington Colfax Apartments • Liberty Tower exterior improvements • Wells Fargo parking garage improvements(corner of Main &Wayne) • JC Lauber's and the Garage • Wharf/Cascades 7 • Library Community Education Center Funded through RDC: • St.Joseph St improvements(new Menard's off Ireland) • Portage/Elwood Commercial Study • Library Block Study(Ramsa) • Ameritech Dr improvements • Downtown Streetscapes improvements(Michigan/Colfax) • Tucker Dr intersection improvements • Douglas Rd Lift Station engineering study • O'Brien Center improvements • SB Chocolate sewer/water engineering;funded sewer extension project • LWW/Charles Martin intersection improvements • Bowman Creek additional funding • South Shore DT Station &Airport Cargo Study • Technology Resource Center • Western Ave Streetscapes Phase III engineering(Falcon to Dundee) • Howard Park improvements • Many projects funded for Engineering PLANNING Annexation • Completed five annexations, the most in a decade. The Baney, South Bend Chocolate, Blad, Ceres, and Old National Annexation areas added 340 acres to the City. Bicycle Planning/Active Transportation ■ Received Silver Bicycle Friendly Community Designation from League of American Bicyclists(2"d in Indiana) ■ Completed successful Lime E-Scooter 45-day pilot ■ Celebrated 1-year Lime anniversary, including debut of designed parking areas ■ Facilitated updates and other communications between city and Lime, including regular advisory group meetings. ■ Responded to community bicycling inquiries/Attended events/group presentations ■ Supported Bike to Work Week/Bike month activities ■ Provided oversight for smart streets bicycle facility engineering/planning Brownfields ■ Closed EPA Coalition countywide assessment grant,—all 600k expended. o Completed 8 Phase I Environmental Assessments(Countywide)-TOTAL o Complete 10 Phase II Environmental Assessments(Countywide) -TOTAL ■ Completed remediation of Lafayette Building through Supplemental Environmental project funds from Indiana Brownfields • Monitored activates at Indiana Avenue/Ignition Park South with Environmental and Legal Partners in coordination with pursuit of legal insurance settlement for Sherman Quality Cleaners Property(702 W. Indiana) 8 Census 2020 ■ Established Complete County Committee in partnership with St.Joseph County ■ Began marketing of Census jobs ■ Developed Outreach Strategy through coalition with area stakeholders and partners ■ Participated in LUCA(Local Update of Census Addresses)to strengthen accuracy of address database City Cemetery ■ Completed Phase I of project including 2-way conversion of Colfax Avenue, and Intersection improvements at LaPorte and LaSalle ■ Completed acquisition of 5 properties for Phase II if project(Entrance Plaza) ■ Held public third meeting/process for stakeholders and public on project design for City Cemetery revitalization project ■ Continual Coordination of project design and engineering phase with consultant partners. Coal Line ■ Redesign of Portage bridge completed to accommodate trail design ■ Continual Coordination of project design and engineering phase with consultant partners. ■ Continual Coordination of communications with legal to determine property ownership. ■ Facilitated public and stakeholder meeting with update of Coal Line design. Corridor Facade Matching Grant Program ■ Nine(9) matching grants were awarded on Lincoln Way West and Western Avenue. Using nearly$200,000 in grant funds, business owners made or planned $500,000 in improvements to building exteriors and landscaping. Five(5) additional grant awards made, businesses working on projects, disbursements yet to come. ■ Two (2) matching grants were awarded on Miami Street and Mishawaka Avenue. Using nearly$40,000 in grant funds, business owners made or planned $80,000 in improvements to building exteriors and landscaping. ■ New matching grant areas planned in 2019 on Portage/Elwood Avenues and Linden Avenue Cross Streets Provided design drawings and evaluation for the upgrades to the public domain connecting the LaSalle Hotel to the Morris Performing Arts Center and John Hunt Plaza. This project reworked vehicular circulation to enhance the pedestrian experience. With the creation of a curb less plaza, this work provides new opportunities to utilize the street as an event space. 9 II I ii® 111 11 11 179 i, . .,- ; �l �ti�,41j44,.41:7:__:,.., gat �� Citi �y 1.;,,,1".".i;!4./.. 3.):'.11-' 1* . 1 14* lt. It ! IT±1/4 My SB Parks&Trails • Leeper Park o Awarded contract with Lochmueller Group for final design and construction drawings • Howard Park o Awarded construction contract to Larsen Danielson;work has begun • Pulaski Park o City engaged with Troyer Group to complete public outreach and develop schematic through final design and construction drawings • Riverwalk o Awarded contract to Abonmarche for design and construction drawings of Riverwalk between Howard Park and the Farmers market • Seitz Park o City worked with SmithGroup.IJR to develop final design and construction drawings o Notre Dame Hydro project to begin in 2019 • West Bank Trail o City worked with Lawson Fisher to develop final design and construction drawing Safe Streets • Managed process to install traffic calming demonstration projects in the Near Northwest Neighborhood, including the Riverside-Hudson roundabout with placemaking elements. Small Scale Development • Participated in the Incremental Development Alliance's local small-scale development boot camp to promote neighborhood reinvestment by small developers. Southeast Neighborhood • Completed Fellows St. raised crosswalk at Riley High School • Engineering and BCe2 worked with neighbors on pilot neighborhood lighting program • Partnered with BCe2 to complete supplemental environmental project, cleaning Bowman Creek between St. Joseph and Carroll just north of Fox St. • Continued serving as a mentor for BCe2 and the new We2 program interns. Projects were mainly focused on vacant lots and community engagement/organizing. 10 West Side Main Streets ■ A streetscape project was completed for the area around Lincolnway West and Charles Martin Sr. Drive. This $1.2 million project narrowed the intersection, making it more pedestrian friendly while creating additional space for development. Curbs,sidewalks, driveway approaches,and street pavement were replaced,while pedestrian bump outs,street trees,decorative lighting, and storm sewers were added. ■ Began engineering design work for a third phase of the Western Avenue streetscape project, proposed to cover the four blocks of Western Avenue between Falcon and Dundee Streets. ■ Worked with West Side South Bend to market west side businesses through social media and public events. Zoning ■ Three zoning ordinance text amendments were developed by Staff and adopted by the Council. The text amendments reformed development standards for the MU district, reduced off-street parking requirements, and updated the subdivision ordinance. These changes reduced the number of unnecessary zoning procedures that held back reinvestment in the community,while also fostering stronger urban design, reducing the overbuilding of paved surfaces, and promoting more vibrant business districts. ■ Began drafting of zoning ordinance overhaul to make the document more usable by simplifying layout and adding illustrative diagrams and tables. Miscellaneous ■ Portage& Elwood Neighborhood Center Vision o Engaged Opticos Design, Inc.to develop a community vision through a public process—including a four-day charrette—for the Portage& Elwood area.The geography looked at includes the retail plaza, Muessel Grove Park, and the former Drewery's Brewery site. ■ Near Northwest Neighborhood Plan o Entered into agreements with Opticos Design, Inc. and Incremental Development Alliance to complete public process to develop neighborhood plan and a strategic development plan for the Sherman & Harrison target area. ■ Attended Spring and Fall APA Indiana Conference 11 ENGAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ENGAGr:\n:Nr& E:cONO\n( t.wo Ee\[t:N'r f�y - 'vy ENGAGE 0. bei In line with Mayor Buttigieg's commitment to investing in people and places,the Engagement& Economic Empowerment team was enabled within the 2018 budget to intentionally connect the city's most vulnerable residents to City, and community resources that promote economic mobility and inclusion. The Engagement& Economic Empowerment team works to empower all residents with access to economic opportunities, and meaningful civic participation. Our team strives to improve the quality of life for residents by first engaging to understand community needs and assets through a resident-centric lens.We then work to facilitate the community partnerships, leverage external resources to meet resident needs and scale resident-led efforts. The Engagement& Economic Empowerment team (EET): • Connects South Bend residents with opportunities to increase educational attainment and workforce training • Increases the proportion of South Bend residents with fulfilling long-term employment • Removes barriers to economic mobility, including criminal & background checks, educational requirements, childcare needs, unreliable transportation, etc. • Ensures South Bend public transit is serving residents' needs and seek out public-private partnerships to fill in gaps where necessary Our team considers community engagement and relationship building to be the core of our mission. Throughout 2018 our Engagement team worked to knock over 5,000 doors and conducted nearly 1,000 surveys, completing data collection for the Westside Qualitative Study, and, "building intentional relationships" with neighborhood organizations,faith communities and other neighborhood stakeholders.Through relationship building and direct resident connections, our teams'goal is to occupy space as the "trusted connector" between residents and city hall. Our team also led the engagement and outreach for the Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge Award in 2018. Over a period of 12 weeks,we offered transportation assistance via ridesharing to over 500 shift workers in food service, hotel service, housekeeping, maintenance, and elderly home care. Moreover,the team worked tirelessly to build key relationships with resident and anchor stakeholders connecting dozens of community businesses, neighborhood organizations and residents to resources.We also held numerous small informational sessions in collaboration with community partners,to share city initiatives and empowerment resources(i.e. Empowerment Fairs(6), University of Notre Dame Food for Thought Series,SPARK Roundtable, Best Week Ever(3),Charles Black Grand Opening and the Dr. MLK celebration). Empowerment Programming&Pilots Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge 12 WHAT MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG IS SAYING: —Pete ButtiBleg,Mayor of South Bond,IN . . I ., I is Transportation is the primary barrier to maintaining stable employment;a problem that has perplexed countless public and private entities. Reliable transportation is the primary barrier to stable employment for shift workers, contributing to annual turnover upwards of 55%. Turnover costs approximately$3,000 per employee and has cascading socio-economic impacts. South Bend has succeeded where others have failed by developing a program that reliably gets residents to work and is financially sustainable without relying on long-term philanthropic investment. Our solution leverages existing technology to provide an integrated network of on-demand transportation options.We will quantify savings for employers due to reduced turnover and increased employee productivity, incentivizing them to fund the program.We are delivering transportation as a benefit by connecting shift workers with the most appropriate and reliable transportation service through a network of"on-demand" providers. Providing stable transportation improves employee reliability and productivity, resulting in reduced turnover and cost savings for employers. Previous solutions, both in South Bend and other cities, have focused on increasing access to existing transportation providers(e.g. bus passes, scheduled van rides)to alleviate transportation problems. These efforts have been inefficient, and unsustainable due to reliance on public subsidies and high operational costs. Our solution does not require costly capital assets, instead leveraging on-demand, data-driven transportation providers(i.e. Uber,Waze Carpool)to lower cost of delivery and increase ridership. By pooling the demand of participating employers,the transportation-as-a-benefit program achieves economies of scale to distribute overhead costs,and risk of underutilization. By providing transportation as a benefit for employees, South Bend will build a stronger, more resilient local economy. What we've learned & Next Steps Westside Qualitative Study The purpose of this research study is to investigate the impact of urban blight on residents' self-efficacy, as well as, resident perspectives on City services.Additionally,academic literature including Massey and Denton, Elijah Anderson,William Julius Wilson, have all discussed the stressors of poverty and race neighborhoods on its' residents.These links provide a theoretical framework for the link between the physical structures of neighborhoods to residents' self-efficacy.The full research will conclude by the first quarter of 2020 with a final presentation to Council by our research partners at the University of Notre Dame.Our team plans to communicate preliminary data results and next steps throughout spring of 2019. Love Your Block In 2018, we were one of ten cities selected by Cities of Service for its flagship grant award-Love Your Block.We based our application in a resident-led,volunteer model developed by Westside neighborhood associations. Love Your Block is a small-scale home repair program that offers mini-grants of up to$5000 to community organizations. Groups can apply by assembling an application that lists houses within 5 blocks of one another that need small-scale repairs. Repairs will be made in collaboration between 13 resident volunteers, and skilled trades representatives.The program will accept applications between January 14, 2019 and March 11, 2019. "LYB" connects residents to empower them to repair their homes and community spaces.This new effort was combined with the Office of Sustainability's new Green Corps Program,the South Bend Home Repair Pilot(formerly SBHIP)to frame a cohesive brand-South Bend Home Repair: Mend the Bend.Together,these programs represent over$1 million in city-funded home repair investments and more than doubling historic funding levels allocated to home repair. The Engagement& Economic team utilizes a data-driven perspective to develop programming promoting economic mobility.Our team examined data surrounding Mayoral priorities concerning rental stability, workforce development, homeownership, and access to capital in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. In 2018,we proposed the following economic empowerment programming or evaluations. Innovative Financing Suite Pilot The Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller and the "FDIC" has collaborated with our team to promote numerous convenings and research support on inclusive economy,economic mobility and access to capital for community development purposes.Our Innovative Financing portfolio refers to a suite of initiatives aimed at increasing access to capital in South Bend based off the CDFI Friendly-City Model launched in Bloomington, IN.This strategy will include: (a)a platform for connecting LMI residents with capital opportunities, (b) a strategy for attracting additional capital to the region, and (c) a structure for monitoring the impact of programs. In 2018 we joined the regional BankOn alliance and launched a CDFI Working Group to develop a strategy intended to attract CDFI lending to the South Bend market. It is necessary to build on the work that this group and a hired consultant(Mark Pinsky, $40,000 allotment in 2019 budget)can do and pursue CDFI lending in an organized way that thoroughly vets all potential partners. By pursuing CDFI lending in a systematic way, rather than pursuing this lending on a deal-by-deal basis,the City can offer more attractive investments to CDFI partners and ensure that different personal and small business lending needs are met in minority and underserved neighborhoods. Our team will leverage its membership in the Northern Indiana "BankOn"Alliance and encourage members to support the work being done around CDFI lending and increasing access to traditional financial products.This group can serve an important role by instituting annual reporting that would call on member institutions to publicize uptake rate, and user base of CRA-compliant programs. Additional reporting would strengthen the Alliance, and allow it to push members to collaborate, and even offer new programs. Banks currently lack the incentive to go above minimal CRA-compliance requirements,which means they could improve their offerings targeted to un/underbanked populations. Annual reporting in conjunction with the new opportunities the City is promoting, will give banks an outlet and an incentive to increase their CRA-compliant offerings. Eviction Legal Defense Fund After the Eviction Lab at Princeton University released national eviction data sets,the City of South Bend had one of the top ten highest rates of eviction in the country. Locally, 19%of extremely low-income renters in South Bend spend more than 50%of their income on rent;this is 4.6%higher than national average The City committed to examining available data to identify high eviction Census tracts and analyzing relationships between different tract-level variables and eviction rates over between 2012- 2016,the largest continuous period when data was available.Variables investigated were Median Income, Percent Rent Burdened, Labor Force Unemployment Rate, Percent of Families Below Poverty Level,and Overall Population. Overall population was consistently found to possess little relationship with increased eviction rates. However, relationships between eviction rates and numerous analyzed variables were inconsistent. This inconsistency demonstrates a need for individual tract-level attention to fully understand the nature 14 of eviction, and address policy needs for different communities. However,findings suggest consistent and notable increases in eviction rates and eviction filing rates during the time. Though relationships between changing eviction rates and observed variables did prove inconsistent,the characteristics of high-eviction census tracts effectively demonstrate that high eviction is correlated with higher poverty, lower median income, and higher unemployment. High eviction is understood as a disruptive socioeconomic problem facing South Bend residents.As the City strives to implement data- driven solutions to resident needs,this analysis will create a more robust understanding of the problem of eviction in South Bend to inform effective policies.The City plans to continue analyzing this problem and developing policy solutions.As a first step,the City committed$5,000 in its 2019 budget to launch a pilot program with the Volunteer Lawyer Network to offer legal assistance to low-income residents facing eviction. Hurry Home Pilot Hurry Home is local, minority-owned,tech start-up that enables low to moderate income renter households to create wealth by providing a path to homeownership through a shared ownership model. Homes worth less than$50,000 account for approximately 12%of South Bend's housing stock but banks cannot profitably originate these loans. Because of this market failure these homes are often sold to cash buyer investors or remain vacant and abandoned. In 2018,the City has invested $40,000 in a pilot that supports down payment assistance for residents, housing counseling, as well as, default insurance.The goal of the pilot is to support 10 renters in making the transition to homeownership through Hurry Home. In 2018, Hurry Home transitioned (3)three renter household to homeowner households. Our team will collaboratively work throughout 2019 to promote the opportunity, work with PHA on a pilot program, and find an institutional partner to support an evaluation of the impact. MiT Jameel Latif Poverty Action Lab(JPaI) Evaluation-Quantifying the Impact of JAG The EET has been awarded a grant from JPAL to evaluate the outcomes of the Jobs for America's Graduates(JAG) program in South Bend.JAG provides skills training and job readiness programming for at risk youth populations.This evaluation may be used to make funding decisions about job readiness programs and could justify an expansion of the JAG budget.JAG's Multi-Year Program offers one to two years of instructional classes to rising high-school juniors and seniors from low-income families or students with a disability to keep students in high school through graduation.The City of South Bend wishes to partner with researchers from J-PAL and LEO to conduct a randomized control trial to answer the question and to understand (1)the tailoring required to optimize JAG performance in a South Bend context, and (2)the return on investment of the program for the purposes of understanding its relative sustainability and efficiency. We will recruit a total sample of 500 students and randomize 250 students into the treatment group and 250 to control. Our intermediate outcomes are on-time high school completion rate and GPA, and long-term outcomes include future income, college application and enrollment rate, etc.The long-term goal of the City is to provide more funding to and scale up the program, should the evaluation show positive and significant result,so that it can benefit all qualified children in the area. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development(DWD) has joined the collaboration to scale the evaluation statewide.The assessment itself will be performed by the Lab for Economic Progress at the University of Notre Dame. Miscellaneous Team Conferences, Presentations&Awards 1. Love Your Block Academy-Orlando, FL 2. MIT JPaI Academy(2)-Cambridge, MA a. Presenter(S. Karnovsky)-Data Governance&Community Partnerships 3. Cities of Service Engagement Summit&Awards-Brooklyn, NY 4. Reinventing our Communities Conference(John Hopkins 21'Century Cities Initiative)—Baltimore, MA 15 5. Tools Toward Market Restoration Conference—Detroit, MI a. Panelist(A.Aldridge)-The Cost of Segregation 6. Just Economy Conference-Washington, D.C. 7. South Bend named high-performing"Race-Informed City" 2018 Grant Applications ■ Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge Award-awarded $1 Million ■ Cities of Service Love Your Block Award-award $25,000(matched $25,000) ■ Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1-PAL Innovation Initiative Award-awarded $50,000(matched and scaled by Indiana DWD to a state-wide evaluation of JAG ■ US Conference of Mayor's Community Wins Award-awarded $50,000 for Building Inclusion Minority Contracting program ■ PNC Foundation Award-awarded $15,000(matched $15,000) ■ Building Inclusion Financial Wellness Coach ■ JPMorgan Chase Advancing Cities Award-applied not awarded ■ US Department of Labor Youth Build Program Award-applied not awarded 16