‘Project Propel’ Seeks to Raise Region Through Air
South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership CEO Regina Emberton
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBusiness and community leaders throughout Michiana are joining forces to boost the regional economy through increasing the number of direct flights at South Bend International Airport. Project Propel focuses on policies that drive business travelers toward SBN first. Right now, organizers say, 60 percent of business flights go to other airports in cities like Chicago, Indianapolis or Fort Wayne. The greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area launched a similar effort that estimates suggest resulted in $100 million staying with the local economy in its first year.
During Wednesday’s public unveiling, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Chief Executive Officer Regina Emberton said the combined efforts of nearly four dozen northern Indiana and southwest Michigan communities carry more weight. "In order grow prosperity, in order to make the region thrive as one offering great jobs, cool places to live and play, and diversity in our communities, we need to work together," she said. "Project Propel presents us with exactly that opportunity."
Emberton referenced the collaboration among stakeholders throughout Michiana generated through a successful Indiana Regional Cities bid that attracted $42 million in planned investment from the state toward quality-of-life projects in St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties. "Since those initial conversations, working together has really become a part of how people are doing business in this region."
SBN Executive Director Mike Daigle said "by re-directing 10-20 percent of that leaking business travel (to other airports) back to our own airport, the national carriers will invest in new direct routes, higher frequency of service and larger aircraft for our region. The implications for getting business travelers in and out of our 47 cities and towns more efficiently are major."
In addition to municipalities backing Project Propel, supporters include: 1st Source Bank, Beacon Health System, Cornerstone Alliance, Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce, Hoosier Racing Tire, Inova Federal Credit Union, Kem Krest, Lippert Components, Moody on the Market (Pat Moody), Saint Joseph Health System, South Bend Medical Foundation, South Bend–Elkhart Regional Partnership, Springwise, Teacher’s Credit Union, the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, the Elkhart Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Elkhart County Economic Development Corp., the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, the Marshall County Economic Development Corp., the Renaissance District, the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce, the St. Joseph County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the University of Notre Dame.
Leaders at the South Bend airport have been working to not just attract direct flights, but international direct flights for some time, as Daigle told Inside INdiana Business in a February interview. American Airlines announced in mid-January it was coming back to SBN with twice-daily nonstops to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. You can connect to more about Project Propel by clicking here.
During Wednesday’s public unveiling, South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership Chief Executive Officer Regina Emberton said the combined efforts of nearly four dozen northern Indiana and southwest Michigan communities carry more weight together.