The South Bend Chocolate Destination Project involved constructing a modern factory and headquarters with expanded manufacturing operations, designed to include factory tours and an on-site early childhood learning center. Additionally, the project enhances tourism through a restaurant, an educational chocolate museum, a farmer’s market showcasing local products, the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, and a Conservation Trail connecting to nearby natural resources.

Located on a 90-acre parcel between U.S. 20 and a nature preserve, the project site offers beauty and accessibility. The project sponsor, the South Bend Chocolate Company, has a strong community focus, with a workforce drawn from low-income communities.

The project represents a significant investment in South Bend’s economic and tourism development. It created 144 new jobs, retained 125 jobs, and offered 79 direct construction jobs. The financing is crucial to realizing the project’s potential to catalyze additional tourism-related development and revitalize the area around the South Bend International Airport.

The South Bend Chocolate Destination Project provides quality jobs with complete healthcare packages and wages averaging over $13.50 per hour at project completion. Entry-level workers from low-income communities filled seventy percent of these jobs. The project also includes a partnership with Bright Beginnings Childcare to provide critical early childhood learning services at below-market rent for 16 children of on-site workers and residents.

Environmentally, the project preserves approximately 60 acres of natural land and enhances access to nearby conservation areas, creating a valuable resource for residents and visitors. The project is anticipated to attract 150,000 to 250,000 visitors annually, with further investment of $40 to $50 million expected in workforce housing and hotel development, making it a key driver of economic growth in the region.