(South Bend, IN) Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced House approval of federal funding for economic development-related projects in South Bend.
As part of the report accompanying the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill approved by the House, the committee appropriated $784,000 in Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) for the purchase of specialized laboratory equipment to assist in the discovery and commercialization of biological and environmental research at the Notre Dame Innovation Park. The City of South Bend is collaborating with other community organizations and the University of Notre Dame to construct the Innovation Park at Notre Dame, a complex where advanced research and business creation activities will take place. The science and research expected to take place in the Park will have applicable uses across the country.
“The University of Notre Dame, as a major source of intellectual capital, is key to the Michiana area being competitive in the innovation economy,” Donnelly said. “The proximity of the Innovation Park to the Notre Dame campus will provide ready access to the special expertise, research capacity, and outstanding pool of professional talent resident in the university. This project will facilitate the technology transfer from university research to commercial products, which could lead to vital economic development here in South Bend.”
As part of the Financial Services Appropriations Bill approved by the House, the Committee appropriated $231,000 in FY08 to the University of Notre Dame for “Robinson Enterprises.” Funds would be used to develop and support a comprehensive training, entrepreneurship and business promotion initiative through the Robinson Community Learning Center to help area low-income “at-risk” individuals gain access to opportunities to improve their economic situations.
“Robinson Enterprises would provide at-risk youth access to professional training and mentoring programs that teach valuable entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy,” Donnelly said. “The skills acquired through these programs will help our youth so they will be able to run small businesses and contribute to South Bend’s economy.”
The House of Representatives has finished its initial consideration of each of the 12 appropriations bills that would fund the agencies and operations of the federal government for Fiscal Year 2008. The spending bills are now pending before the Senate. In order for them to become law, the Senate and House must pass identical bills, and if that does not happen, a compromise negotiated between the House and Senate called a “conference report” must be voted on by both bodies. Each appropriations bill must then be signed into law by the president.
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