A unified vision for downtown Elkhart

It is no secret that big things are happening in downtown Elkhart these days. Among them is the merger of the Elkhart Centre – the 22-year-old not-for-profit downtown revitalization organization – with Elkhart Downtown, Inc., and the Downtown Elkhart Business Association. As a strong, unified organization, the newly renamed Downtown Elkhart, Inc., will focus on economic development, bringing together all downtown groups and stakeholders to create a better downtown.

“Downtown Elkhart, Inc., is committed to promoting a positive community perception of our downtown and increasing investment in the heart of the city,” said Jeff Schwingendorf, past president of the organization’s board of directors.

The goal of the organization is to unite the downtown community – comprising business owners, entrepreneurs, property owners, community organizations, civic leaders, and others – to cooperatively identify and address issues and to create and implement initiatives for continuing downtown improvements. It is a diverse group of stakeholders, but all are invested in creating a successful central neighborhood that attracts and retains new businesses and visitors.

Downtown Elkhart, Inc., is helmed by an executive committee including:

Dan Boecher (First State Bank) – President
Tim Shelly (Warrick & Boyn) – first vice president
Carol McDowell Loshbough (McDowell Enterprises) – secretary
Kirk Root (Skyline Corporation) – treasurer
Bill Lavery (Whisler & Lavery) – immediate past president
Jason Ward (Sanders Pianowski LLP) – legal counsel

$19 million in new investments!

Downtown Elkhart, Inc., is thrilled about the soon-to-begin $17 million ELCO/Lerner Theatre renovation -- and promoting the ongoing development of Elkhart's own downtown Arts & Entertainment District. But there is much more going on -- and the impact will be phenomenal!

Take a look at these exciting projects in the works:

Redevelopment of the former Faith Mission -- to house the Mad Anthony Brewing Company Old State Ale House, plus 7 apartments and 2 new commercial spaces -- $1.1 million
Chalker's Pub & Billiards renovation -- $220,000
Central Park development -- $600,000
Phase I of new wayfinding signage for downtown -- $31,000

That's a total investment of almost $19 million over the next 12 to 18 months in our downtown Arts & Entertainment District!

New wayfinding signage in the works for downtown Elkhart

The Downtown Elkhart, Inc., Design Committee has been hard at work on the development of a new user-friendly wayfinding signage system for downtown Elkhart and other area attractions. Production of the new Phase I signage will be funded by a $20,000 Downtown Enhancement Grant from the Indiana Main Street Program and $5,000 contributions from the Elkhart Urban Enterprise Association and the Downtown Elkhart, Inc., Economic Development Committee, respectively. The City of Elkhart will handle new signage installation.