With support from enFocus, the City of South Bend received $1.87 million through the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry grant in September 2023. In managing this award, enFocus continues to partner with the City to help reach its goals to expand the Urban Tree Nursery Network, establish permanent plantings at schools, and bolster education and workforce development. To meet the goal of planting around 9,000 trees over five years as covered by this grant, our team is committed to learning firsthand the processes of planting and maintaining trees.

The ability to analyze data cannot exist in a vacuum. It takes a team of collaborators to collect, analyze, sort, and understand what to do with the information that has been collected.

Researching and analyzing data is important in today’s age, but what does that look like in a professional setting?

Originally from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, I came to South Bend in June of 2021 to attend the University of Notre Dame, where I earned a M.S. in Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship (ESTEEM). This educational pursuit equipped me with a new toolkit for entrepreneurship and innovation–along with a new perspective on how I might leverage my career and skillset for meaningful impact.

Healthcare, education, local government, nonprofits, technology, and manufacturing industries all have the potential to obtain grant funds and spur innovation in the region.

Akash earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Akash is applying his mechanical engineering knowledge to drive internet innovation in our region.

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is now. This wisdom rings true as we, enFocus, and representatives of the City of South Bend welcomed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator, Debra Shore. During her visit she met with the enFocus team to learn how we will use the recently announced $500,000 Environmental Justice Community Problem Solving (EJCPS) grant to advance sustainability initiatives in South Bend.

It is common practice to create long-term plans for businesses, but what does it look like when you strategically plan for a place you call home?

enFocus understands that healthcare is essential to keeping a pulse on the economic development of a region. Health systems and public health programs allow individuals access to care and services, while also providing employment opportunities and driving economic growth.

The Marshall County Lifelong Learning Network (LLN) was founded in 1998 to provide career and technical education (CTE)  for high school youth. In 2021, the organization sought to broaden its scope to meet community needs by providing inclusive educational opportunities ranging from early childhood through adulthood.

When I was a child, I was full of curiosity. Like many kids, I wanted to be a part of everything and I wanted to understand the world around me.

Recruitment and hiring of international individuals can have a positive impact on communities through attracting skilled talent to difficult technical roles, supporting population growth, and driving economic development. The City of South Bend recognizes the potential for economic growth with international talent.

Approximately 45% of 4th-6th graders in Elkhart County school districts are obese. In response, the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition (NIHHC) created the Healthy Hearts program to educate Elkhart County students in 4th-6th grade on the importance of heart health. The program teaches students about nutrition and exercise through hands-on activities led by a trained facilitator during the school day.

Megan received a B.A. in History and English Literature from the University of Tennessee and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina. She is using her skills and passions to impact childhood immunizations in Elkhart County.

Elkhart County launched the dark fiber connectivity initiative in 2018. Dark fiber is a vendor-neutral optic strand that can be “lit” by any service provider to provide internet service. According to FCC Broadband statistics in June 2021, 70% of Elkhart County residents had no access to fiber optic broadband and 24% of residents had availability to only one provider.

Jody Suryatna and Francie Fink, civic and industry innovation Fellows, joined forces to support a local nonprofit with website development. Their different skills came together to create a website that reflected the programs and services of the ETHOS Stem Center.

Francie, a native of Valparaiso, Indiana, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2020 with a degree in Environmental Science. Francie partnered with the City of South Bend Department of Innovation and Technology to advance the Technology Resource Center by promoting lifelong learning and technology skill development.

Maxx received his undergraduate degree from the Virginia Military Institute and a Master's degree from the University of Notre Dame in Nonprofit Administration. Now, Maxx is committed to improving food access and impactful change for residents in our region.

In February 2020, I was beyond excited about the chance to study abroad in Germany, even if it was only for four months. I had only ever known the same old milieu of rural Indiana, and I was ready to, as they say, “broaden my horizons.”

Patrick is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame where he studied Economics and Sociology. Patrick is now bridging the digital divide for South Bend Community School Corporation students.