WNIT's Economic Outlook

As people are looking for cleaner sources of energy, solar power systems are gaining in popularity. And one South Bend company is looking to capitalize on that demand, while at the same time looking to make a difference in the life if its employees. Today we’ll introduce you to Crossroads Solar, on Economic Outlook.

Tomorrow on Economic Outlook, we talk with Patrick Regan, President of Crossroads Solar. Watch Tuesday at 7pm on WNIT or listen on our Podcast on most major platforms.

Whether you’re on the shores of Lake Michigan or the Lakes of Kosciusko County, or anywhere in between, you’re seeing signs of economic growth that is changing and improving the community you live in. Each week we like to take a deeper dive into those projects and stories, and we bring them right into you home. My partner in crime for this effort has been George Lepeniotis, an attorney here region...

Jeff Rea and George Lepeniotis are back for another season of the show. Catch an all new episode tonight to get a preview of what you can expect on this season.  You can also watch the show on WNIT Tuesday's at 7pm, or go to our website wnit.org to watch current and past episodes. 

In 2012, the Indiana Chamber launched its Indiana Vision 2025 plan, aimed at ensuring the State grows as it should, attracts new residents and business, and competes with other states. We’ll take a closer look at progress towards that plan with the 2021 scorecard, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The Covid Pandemic impacted every industry, but likely none as significantly as the Arts Community. Today we’ll take a closer look at how the Arts have navigated this challenging year, what actions they’ve taken to help survive, and how they plan to emerge post pandemic, coming up on Economic Outlook.

A significant investment in transit infrastructure has led to some major development in cities like Portland, Tucson, New Orleans, and Atlanta. One local group believes it could have a similar impact in South Bend and has prepared plans for a Streetcar project that could connect major attractions. We’ll take a closer look, coming up on Economic Outlook.

A booming construction industry coupled has created good career opportunities and construction Trades is an enticing job market for many. But like many industries, finding people to fill open positions is a real challenge. We’ll take a closer look at the Construction Trades, and efforts to build its future workforce, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on tourism, hospitality, and attractions across the region. Major adjustments had to be made to navigate mandated shutdowns and capacity limitations. We’ll take a closer look at how some regional attractions navigated the pandemic, and what’s ahead, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the regional economy and around the world. This week we’ll take a close-up look at that impact and talk about what we can expect as the pandemic comes to an end, and we’ll look at the “outlook” for southwest Michigan, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The roll-out of three COVID-19 vaccines have businesses excited about the end of the pandemic and a return to some normalcy. But it also has created a whole new list of questions as to how they should approach vaccines in the workplace. We’ll sit down for a closer look at COVID in the Workplace, and how employers should approach vaccinations, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The global pandemic and the economic crisis that followed has left a lasting impact on nearly every industry, perhaps none more impacted than the commercial and industrial real estate markets. We’ll take a closer look at those markets in a pandemic economy, and talk about how their poised to rebound, coming up on Economic Outlook.

She was the Team Captain of the First American Women's Everest Expedition Team; she’s a faculty member at the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point, and she’s a New York Times bestselling author of On the Edge. We’re sitting down with Alison Levine for a talk about surviving, and thriving, in unsettling times, coming up on Economic Outlook.

This winter, Major League Baseball announced the most sweeping changes in history to minor league baseball. Those changes could have big impacts on communities that have teams. We’ll take a closer look at those changes and give you a sneak peek at what’s ahead for the South Bend Cubs and minor league baseball here in our region, coming up on Economic Outlook.

On a typical day, they run more than 20 trains carrying some 12,000 passengers in and out of Chicago and Northern Indiana. They have big plans to improve that service and reduce travel times. We’ll take a closer look at the South Shore Railroad and what improvement you can expect in the coming years, coming up on Economic Outlook.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has devastated the travel, tourism, leisure and hospitality industries, with restaurants being amongst the hardest hit as a result of mandated closures and capacity limits. We’ll take a closer look at the Pandemic’s toll on the restaurant industry with Kurt Janowski, Founder and Owner of Navarre Hospitality Group, on this episode of Economic Outlook.

Airline travel is at its lowest level since 1984, as the travel industry virtually ground to a halt at the height of the pandemic. But recent signals suggest the industry is beginning to re-emerge, which has a big impact here locally on the South Bend International Airport. To talk COVID and the airlines, and what lies ahead for the airline industry and the Airport, we’re joined today by Mike Daig...

They’ve zeroed in on the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, working to cultivate a world class business environment and catalyze Indiana’s economic recovery. We’re sitting down with Kevin Brinegar from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for a closer look at this legislative session and the key issues the business community is focused on, coming up on Economic Outlook.

She oversees a portfolio that includes the  State Department of Agriculture ,  Housing and Community Development Authority ,  Office of Community and Rural Affairs , and  Indiana Destination Development Corporation . In addition, she also serves as President of the Indiana Senate, chair of the  Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission , chair of the  I...

We asked our guests to stick around for a few more minutes for an extension on our conversation of strengthening our tech workforce.

The pandemic has changed the way people work in our region and accelerated the need and demand for technology improvements in our businesses and our homes. Those demands have a big impact on our workforce. Today, we are going to take a closer look at the IT sector and efforts underway in the region to strengthen our tech workforce. Joining me for that conversation are Lex Dennis, Director of Lifel...

Visitor spending brings cash into our communities, creating jobs, enhancing the local economy and improving the quality of life for residents. At the same time, travel and tourism heighten cultural awareness, help create a sense of place for a community and can provide shared experiences to connect friends and families across generations. Tourism matters in Indiana and joining me today to talk mor...

They represent the business interests of thousands of businesses across the region, and they are hearing firsthand about how those businesses are pivoting because of the global pandemic. We’ll take a closer look at COVID’s impact on small business and what the future looks like for our communities, coming up on this episode of Economic Outlook.

We sit down with Rob Cleveland who is the President of the Cornerstone Alliance in Benton Harbor, to discuss the economic activity there.

We introduced you to their plans to transform Downtown Elkhart several years ago. We’ve watched as project after project has moved forward and we’ve seen a major transformation happen in the City with a Heart happen right before our eyes. But that transformation remains a work in progress. Today we’ll take a closer look at the progress and look ahead at what’s next, with Dave Weaver, Chair of Rive...