Regional Economic Development
Regional Economic Development District
MACOG, an Economic Development District designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), facilitates public-private partnerships to implement a coordinated regional economic development strategy. This designation, driven by its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), strengthens regional collaboration and unlocks access to EDA funding opportunities for communities within the district. The CEDS serves as a five-year plan, analyzing regional assets and challenges, articulating a shared vision for economic prosperity, and detailing specific strategies to achieve regional goals.
These strategies focus on key areas such as fostering world-class higher education and community partnerships, improving access and connectivity (including infrastructure and broadband), and cultivating high-performing communities characterized by economic vitality and quality of life. Regular performance reports track and record progress toward achieving the CEDS objectives.
The Policy Board adopted the 2025-2029 CEDS on April 9, 2025.
Regional Housing Study
The Regional Housing Study is intended to offer a regional perspective to complement local planning and policymaking as communities across the three-county area (Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties) confront and manage housing challenges and opportunities. MACOG’s goals for this study are to support the range of actions and strategies needed to address today’s and tomorrow’s key housing challenges across the region. The Lilly Endowment Inc. funded this study through a Giving Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) VIII grant in cooperation with the Community Foundations in Elkhart, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties and with support from the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership (SBERP).
Regional Resilience & Recovery Efforts
MACOG is implementing diverse programs and resources to support our local governments and economic partners in recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while boosting the region’s economic resilience and competitiveness. Key initiatives feature the cooperative efforts and connection between the MACOG-led regional resiliency plan, “Collaborating for Regional Resilience and Economic Growth,” and the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership's management of the Indiana READI grant award.
State of Digital Inclusion
In 2021, MACOG worked with the Purdue Center of Regional Development (PCRD) to study the State of Digital Inclusion in the MACOG region. As the COVID-19 pandemic made clear, digital exclusion significantly threatens community and economic development. Access to and utilization of broadband technologies is necessary for any community or region.