The City of Elkhart experienced record-breaking economic development in 2017 and Mayor Tim Neese says the positive momentum has continued into 2018.

In the first quarter of 2018, the City issued building permits for nearly 90 commercial and industrial projects. This number includes both new construction and alterations, for a total value of over $48 million. If 2018 development continues at this rate, Elkhart could outpace 2017’s record-breaking year of $144 million in new commercial/industrial investment. By comparison, that number was less than $60 million for all of 2016.

“Despite these encouraging numbers, the city staff continue to look 10-plus years into the future to ensure Elkhart remains competitive,” Neese said. “Today, our immediate needs include talent attraction and retention and meeting housing demands. The future depends on supporting our existing businesses and the diversification of our economy. For the first time in 2018, we will be specifically targeting new industries that will bring mid-skill, higher-wage jobs to Elkhart and will be reevaluating our incentives to align them with these goals.”

So far this year, the department has finalized 47 technical review meetings with engineers, planners, and developers.