SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The University of Notre Dame has hired a former Textron Inc. vice president of mergers and acquisitions to head its efforts to help grow the regional community of the South Bend-Elkhart area through strategic partnerships with the university.

Jack Curran has been selected to fill the newly created role of associate vice president of new business development. The position was identified as a priority in the university’s updated strategic plan last year.

The university says a recent example of one such partnership is the Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory, which involves the city of South Bend, the state of Indiana, General Electric Co. and other partners.

Curran will work on economic development projects aimed at having a positive impact on Notre Dame and the surrounding area of northern Indiana.