The South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership is preparing to apply for up to $50 million of $500 million available in state funding for economic development.

The money will allow cities, towns and counties to partner with the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative on projects aimed at retaining talent and attract a bigger workforce.

The program builds on the Regional Cities program from five years ago. Regions have to apply to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. by the end of August.

Between now and then, they can apply for a $50,000 planning grant to help them put together an application, according to 95.3 MNC’s reporting partners at The Elkhart Truth.