Notre Dame and Ancora move forward with downtown South Bend tech district

University and investment firm partner on initial phase of new research and innovation hub focused on emerging technologies and economic development.

Photo Credit: Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame and investment management firm Ancora are moving ahead with the first phase of a planned Tech and Talent District in downtown South Bend, Indiana.

The project is part of the city’s broader Downtown South Bend 2045 plan and centers on the adaptive reuse of the vacant South Bend Tribune building.

Ancora, based in Washington, D.C., specializes in mission-aligned investment partnerships with colleges and universities, combining capital with long-term real estate and operational capabilities. Its role in the South Bend development includes supporting Notre Dame’s goal of turning the district into a center for applied research, talent development, and local engagement.

The district will be located at the northeast corner of Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard, with plans also including a new research and office building nearby. Work will begin with the transformation of the Tribune building, which Notre Dame purchased in 2023 to prevent it from sitting vacant. The site previously housed the city’s daily newspaper from 1921 to 2019 and is currently nominated for the National Register of Historic Places.

Pending final design and stakeholder input, construction is expected to begin later this year.

Research, training, and community support

The project aims to advance research in fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced computing, while also serving the community through workforce training and entrepreneurship programs.

Holy Cross College will introduce a leadership and ethics initiative, and Notre Dame’s South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program will expand its services in the district. Other activity in the area includes a new community space opened by South Bend City Church in the adjacent former Tribune press building, which also houses local partners such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Indiana.

Shannon Cullinan, executive vice president at Notre Dame, says: “The region has taken tremendous strides in the past decade to advance a shared vision for a vibrant, more prosperous South Bend-Elkhart region. Ancora will help us build upon that momentum with this transformative community project, just as they have done in other emerging markets.”

Long-term goals and investment context

In August 2024, Notre Dame received a $30 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration initiative to support the project. The investment aligns with the university’s broader strategic framework, which emphasizes economic and social engagement in the South Bend-Elkhart region.

Josh Parker, chairman and CEO of Ancora, says: “This project represents our unique approach to long-term, mission-aligned investment partnerships with universities. We’re honored to support Notre Dame's vision of bringing students, innovators, neighbors and businesses together in the heart of South Bend — and to serve as a catalyst for this next chapter, creating a place where opportunity is within reach, talent can flourish and the benefits of growth are shared across the city and region.”

Caleb Bauer, executive director of community investment for the city of South Bend, adds: “The partnership between the University of Notre Dame and Ancora will breathe new life into an area of downtown South Bend in need of reinvestment — bringing research, talent and community vision together into an exciting new district.”