Laserfiche WebLink
To:Project Future Board of Directors <br /> Prom:Philip A.Newbold,Chairman <br /> Re:Transition Plans <br /> Nearly 30 years ago,a small dedicated group of concerned community leaders gathered to better organize and <br /> dramatically improve the community's economic future.Project Future was launched and over the past three <br /> decades has been tirelessly working to attract and create jobs and improve the economic well being of the area. <br /> As technology and globalization have changed all our daily lives and our economy,we are faced with <br /> significant changes which require a more regional and more technology based future.Whereas Project Future <br /> has spent a great deal of its successful efforts on attracting new businesses to the community and helping <br /> existing businesses expand and grow,it now seems more strategic to focus more of our resources on new <br /> business startups and to commercialize more of the technologies coming out of Notre Dame and Indiana <br /> University. <br /> The biggest transition is to announce that Pat McMahon,our talented Executive Director,will be focusing the <br /> majority of his time in an expanded role that has evolved from the Michiaaa Technology Connection(MTC) <br /> evaluation and planning exercise.Pat will focus on several of the MTC's strategic recommendations,working <br /> to create stronger bridges between Notre Dame's expanding research centers and our communities.Pat will <br /> report directly to Bob Bernhard,Vice President of Research,as Notre Dame takes steps to enhance its capacity <br /> to support the transformation of new concepts and big ideas into new ventures and expanding businesses. <br /> Pat will also spent a portion of his time assisting in the transition of our traditional economic development <br /> activities into a combined regional/local structure.Pat played a strong role over the past two years with several <br /> regional development professionals to create a platform for a larger,multi-county marketing umbrella.His <br /> "second"job will be to assist in the evolution of strong local initiatives that will work closely with these <br /> regional partners. <br /> The Executive Committee of Project Future has been quietly working with the Chamber of Commerce of St. <br /> Joseph County to explore how to best position the county and the region for growth over the next decade.A <br /> small group of Project Future Board members will be working with the Chamber to develop a more coordinated <br /> and expanded role around business retention,attraction and growth for South Bend,Mishawaka and St.Joseph <br /> County,and how those activities complement regional efforts.More details will emerge over the next several <br /> weeks as we better define roles,responsibilities,funding needs,and leadership. <br /> Finally,there are two new organizations that are also active and critically important to our regional economic <br /> development future.Jump Start has recently developed a new Regional Economic Assistance Plan(REAP)and <br /> the Corporate Partnership for Economic Growth(CPEG)will help coordinate,focus and accelerate economic <br /> development across a seven county region of north central Indiana and southwest Michigan, <br /> What is clear is that we continue to need your longstanding leadership and financial support.Project Future has <br /> been the envy across the state of the private,public and nonprofit partnership that has enabled the area to be <br /> successful and work together.As we enter this new transition phase,we will continue to provide new details on <br /> our plans and leadership as they emerge.Thank you again for your unwavering support of Project Future and <br /> we look forward to a stronger and more vibrant economic future. <br /> of i. f r <br />