HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-2010 2 economic development efforts get international honors
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
October 1, 2010
3:30 PM
2 economic development efforts get international honors
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A brochure to promote economic development opportunities in
conjunction with South Bend’s Ignition Park won an Excellence in Economic
Development award from an international panel of private- and public-sector experts.
The International Economic Development Council has given an Excellence in Economic
Development Award to the brochure, “South Bend: Powering the New Economy,” in its
special purpose brochure category for cities with a population of 25,000 to 200,000.
In addition, the City of South Bend’s partnership with the University of Notre Dame
received an honorable mention for the Northeast Neighborhood revitalization in the
“Partnerships with an Educational Institution” in the same population category.
“We recognize the City of South Bend for providing successful strategies to promote new
paradigms in economic development in this period of global recovery,” said William
Best, IEDC chair. “Our awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in
creating positive change in communities. The City of South Bend is showing that they are
at the forefront of the economic development profession and are using innovative and
effective practices that can be replicated in other communities.”
Mayor Stephen J. Luecke received both honors on behalf of the City of South Bend and
its partners during ceremonies here Tuesday at the 2010 annual conference of the
International Economic Development Council. The IEDC is the world’s largest member
organization serving the economic development profession with more than 4,500
members around the world.
“When a city works with excellent partners, the results speak for themselves,” Luecke
said. “We are pleased to be recognized among cities around the world for our pursuit of
strategies to enhance and achieve economic development in South Bend. Each day, we
see the exciting changes coming to South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood near the
University of Notre Dame campus. While brochures and other strategies to attract new
development are less visible, this award recognizes that they are no less significant.”
The brochure was produced by The Blue Waters Group, a communications firm hired by
the City’s Redevelopment Commission to assist with marketing/communication efforts
related to Ignition Park, and printed by Mossberg & Co. Inc. in South Bend. It can be
viewed online at: http://www.ignitionpark.com/brochuresandinformation.asp
The Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization is an effort by the City of South Bend,
neighborhood residents and major institutions like the University of Notre Dame to
redevelop the area near campus. The Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization
Organization, the primary driver of most of the efforts, also included the Northeast
Neighborhood Council, Madison Center, Memorial Hospital and Saint Joseph Regional
Medical Center with staff support provided by South Bend Heritage Foundation.
Components include:
?Eddy Street Commons – A $215-million mixed-use development by Kite Realty
Group, selected by the University as developer.
?A new neighborhood – The City acquired and re-platted land to build 60 new low-to-
moderate-income and market-rate homes southeast of Eddy Street Commons.
?Infill Housing – University incentives for faculty and staff and neighborhood
planning led to the building of 30 new homes and the rehabilitation of 60 others.
?Indiana University School of Medicine at South Bend – The University created a
development site for a medical school that had been on Notre Dame’s campus since
1968. With Indiana University, Notre Dame built a new facility in 2005. Now,
construction nears completion on a $20-million cancer research center.
?Innovation Park at Notre Dame – The City and University worked with Project Future
to create Innovation Park, a state-certified technology park. The first of four buildings
was completed in 2009 by Notre Dame and already has multiple tenants.
?Hospital site – The partners created a master plan to redevelop the former St. Joseph’s
Regional Medical Center, now under consideration as the future home of a new
Catholic high school.
The “South Bend: Powering the New Economy” brochure represents one element of a
multi-pronged marketing/communication strategy, which also includes a web site for
Ignition Park (www.IgnitionPark.com) and a monthly e-mail newsletter of economic-
development activity in South Bend (www.SouthBendON.com).
The International Economic Development Council is the premier membership
organization dedicated to helping economic development professionals create high
quality jobs, develop vibrant communities and improve the quality of life in their regions.
Serving more than 4,500 members, IEDC represents the largest network of economic
development professionals in the world. IEDC provides a diverse range of services,
including conferences, certification, professional development, publications, research,
advisory services and legislative tracking.
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