Last week, we shared a progress update on Amazon's data center investment with the St. Joseph County Council. A lot has happened since we first announced this project in 2024, and I want to share how far we've come. Our St. Joseph County data center campus is powering the digital services that Indiana employers, researchers, and public institutions
The Health Talent Alliance of Northern Indiana (HTA), a regional, employer-led collaborative focused on strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline across North Central Indiana, has reached a key milestone with the official launch of its employer job forecasting survey. This effort marks the first major implementation step of the U.S. Chamber of
Microsoft has recently started moving dirt on its Cleveland Road site in eastern St. Joseph County in preparation for development of its newest data center campus. In May, the company held a public open house to help the community better understand data centers and the proposed project. The meeting was well attended and included a dozen stations where
May is Small Business Month, which makes it a perfect time to pause and recognize the extraordinary role small businesses play in the health of our economy and the fabric of our community. When we talk about “small business,” we’re not talking about a niche part of the economy. We’re talking about the economy. There are nearly
The South Bend Regional Chamber announces the recipients of the 2026 Michiana Forty under 40 class. The talent program is a prestigious recognition initiative celebrating 40 remarkable young professionals, adults, executives and leaders under the age of 40 (as of May 15, 2026) who demonstrate exceptional leadership, career success and a strong commitment to
The words “data center” trigger a lot of different thoughts in those who hear or read them. Repeatedly, critics have voiced concerns about things like how much power and water they might use, and how they could impact future electric bills. As the Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft projects take shape in our community, those concerns are
When our community has been asked to consider major projects like the AWS, Microsoft, or Synergy Cells projects, people have asked many tough questions. They should. At the same time, we need to view the full picture, not just the rumors or the loudest objections. Data centers are one of those issues where the conversation has been dominated by
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a complicated topic to understand. Generally, there is not a great understanding of this economic development tool and how and why communities use it. I’m devoting my column this month to trying to help readers gain a better understanding. I hope this helps. TIF began in California in the 1950s. Indiana Implemented