The University of Notre Dame announced Friday it was awarded a $42.4 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.
The university will use that money to partner with businesses in the South Bend - Elkhart area that promote workforce and economic growth.
Notre Dame and the South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership say they’ll use the five-year grant to form a coalition they’re calling "Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation" or LIFT. The plan calls for creating a research lab at Notre Dame, enhancing technical education programs at area schools, and providing grants to local nonprofits that provide training for emerging jobs.
Notre Dame President, Rev. John Jenkins, says it’s an opportunity to grow the region into the next Silicon Valley.
“It’s going to create new businesses, a new dynamism; and creativity spawns creativity," Jenkins said. "New businesses spawn other new businesses. So we hope there’s a really wonderful, virtuous cycle.”
Regional partners hope to add an additional $127.6 million dollars to the fund in matching contributions.
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