In collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College will create the Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence in downtown South Bend. The new center will be established as part of a tech and talent district partially funded by a $30 million grant to Notre Dame from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, College and Community Collaboration (CCC). Notre Dame will commit $2.5 million for Holy Cross College’s new center.
The College has proven successful in recent years in developing the skills of professionals and others working in the areas of education, non-profit pursuits, and business. Through the new center in South Bend, the College will expand its reach, providing college credit-earning credentialing programs for a wider variety of individuals – particularly high school students, tech-skilled workers, and formerly incarcerated individuals who are in the process of societal reentry.
“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to partner with the University of Notre Dame and the supported provided by Lilly Endowment to help the College create this Center for Leadership & Professional Excellence,” said Dr. Marco J. Clark, president of Holy Cross College. “Our partnership with the University will not only assist this Center in establishing its headquarters but will also allow it to be firmly planted in downtown South Bend as part of a larger effort of college and community collaboration.”
The collaboration between Notre Dame and Holy Cross is part of a $30 million grant-supported initiative to create a tech and talent district in downtown South Bend. The grant will partially fund the renovation of a historic downtown building as the centerpiece of the district. Moreover, both University and College staff will relocate to the district along with employees, researchers and entrepreneurs from private sector entities, including human services organizations.
“The Downtown South Bend Tech and Talent Hub will not only enhance Notre Dame’s research capabilities, but also drive significant economic growth and community development in downtown South Bend,” Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., said. “This project exemplifies our commitment to integrating research and innovation with impactful community engagement, fostering both local and regional advancement. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its generous support.”
Notre Dame is one of 13 Indiana higher education institutions receiving grants from Lilly Endowment through the latest and final round of the CCC initiative. The aim of the initiative is to encourage Indiana’s colleges and universities to work closely with community stakeholders to envision and jointly undertake significant community development efforts to create more vibrant places in which to live, learn, work and play.
“While varied in scope and reach, the proposed initiatives and projects reflect a commitment by stakeholders, inclusive of faculty, staff and students from these institutions, business leaders, government officials, and community leaders, to create vibrant communities where all residents can thrive,” said Jennett M. Hill, president of Lilly Endowment. “The Endowment looks forward to seeing all the projects in the CCC initiative evolve. We are enthusiastic about the prospects for both the institutions and communities and are eager to see these institutions and their community stakeholders collaborate to breathe life into their promising projects.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based, private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with its founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion, and it maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.