City of South Bend

What City of South Bend does

South Bend is a municipal government entity incorporated in 1868, serving approximately 101,000 residents as the fourth-largest city in Indiana across a 42-square-mile jurisdiction in St. Joseph County. It delivers statutory public services — public safety (a 256-firefighter fire department and a police department under Fire Chief Carl R. Buchanon and Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski), utilities (water, sewer, trash), permitting, and community programs — through City Hall at 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, a network of department offices, a phone-accessible 311 line, and the 311 Service Portal at 311.southbendin.gov. Operations are led by Mayor James Mueller, the city's 33rd mayor sworn in January 1, 2020, who oversees a workforce of 1,000+ employees and an annual budget exceeding $380 million.

The city's core technology stack centers on the 311 Service Portal, which routes non-emergency requests and is being upgraded with AI-based predictive models developed in partnership with the University of Notre Dame under a $1 million Bloomberg Mayors Challenge grant. The Solid Waste division operates a distinctive infrastructure asset: anaerobic-digestion biogas converted from wastewater powers 100% of its fleet, with automated mechanical-arm collection trucks and tablet-based route tracking capturing contamination and usage data. Supporting digital products include a Transparency & Performance portal, an ArcGIS open data portal, the Together South Bend civic engagement platform, Build South Bend (a small developer toolkit), Vibrant Places (a matching-grant program for business exterior improvements), and the Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative (EASSI).

The revenue model is hybrid and government-typical rather than commercial: recurring utility/trash fees billed monthly at $15.78 (senior rate $9.47), one-time and annual business license fees ranging from $16 to $525 across 17+ categories, building permits with a $60 minimum, property-tax abatement administration, and grant-funded program budgets. Customers are segmented into city residents (primary, for utility and 311 services), local businesses (primary, for licensing and economic-development programs), and property developers (secondary, for permitting and Build South Bend resources). Distribution is omnichannel: self-serve portal, phone (311), in-person at City Hall, and dedicated department offices.

Name

City of South Bend

Legal name

City of South Bend

Website

https://southbendin.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The City of South Bend is a municipal government serving approximately 101,000 residents in St. Joseph County, Indiana, delivering public safety, utilities, trash collection, permitting, and community programs through a 311 portal, City Hall, and department offices under a $380M+ annual budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Administration / Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Other General Government Support (92119), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB)

Keywords

• Municipal services
• Public safety
• Utilities administration
• Economic development
• Community services

Headquarters

HQ city

South Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Utility Fees: Monthly trash service billed on utilities bill at $15.78 per month (senior rate $9.47). Additional bin fees of $8.97/month. Yard waste program $6/month during season.
2. Business Licenses and Permits: Various business license fees including adult business ($500), alarm agent ($75), arborist ($60), automotive repair ($200), restaurants ($90-$110), mobile food vendors ($50-$525), and many other categories
3. Property Tax Abatement Administration: City administers tax abatement programs for economic development purposes
4. Building Permits: Fees for residential, commercial, mechanical, and other building permits. Minimum permit fee is $60 as of January 1, 2026

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of South Bend delivers municipal government services to its residents and businesses, including solid waste and trash collection, public safety (police and fire), building permits and inspections, business licensing, utility billing, parks and recreation, and community engagement programs. It operates a 311 Service Portal, City Hall offices, and department offices across the city, and runs targeted programs such as Vibrant Places matching grants, the Build South Bend developer toolkit, and the Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative (EASSI).

Product overview

The City of South Bend offers a unified portfolio of digital city services centered around its 311 City Services Portal, which serves as the primary interface for residents to access municipal services including reporting issues, requesting services, applying for permits, and paying bills. The official website (southbendin.gov) provides comprehensive access to city departments, elected officials, news, events, and community resources. Supporting initiatives include the Together South Bend community engagement platform, the Transparency & Performance Portal for open data and police transparency, the Vibrant Places grant program for business exterior improvements, the EASSI energy efficiency initiative, the Build South Bend developer toolkit, and the Utility Assistance Program for low-income residents. The city has also won a $1 million Bloomberg Mayors Challenge grant to develop an AI-based reimagining of its 311 system in partnership with the University of Notre Dame.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 311 Service Portal: City's non-emergency service request and information portal handling resident calls and service requests.
• Together South Bend
• Build South Bend
• South Bend Animal Resource Center
• Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative (EASSI)
• Vibrant Places Grant
• Welcome Home
• SB Alive Grant

Products and services

• 311 City Services Portal Online self-service portal handling non-emergency calls and service requests from residents, providing access to apply for services, pay bills, report issues, and request municipal services across categories such as trash, utilities, streets, public safety, animals, housing, and permits.
• Residential Solid Waste Collection Subscription-based weekly trash and yard waste pickup billed monthly on residents' utility bills, utilizing automated mechanical-arm collection trucks and a biogas-powered fleet. Standard rate $15.78/month with senior rate $9.47/month.
• Business Licensing Annual business license issuance and renewal program for South Bend-based businesses, with fees varying by business category (e.g., restaurants $90-$110, mobile food vendors $50-$525, automotive repair $200).
• Building Permits and Inspections Transaction-based permitting and inspection services for residential, commercial, and mechanical building projects, with a $60 minimum permit fee.
• Vibrant Places Matching Grant Program Matching grant program providing $1,500 to $50,000 to local businesses for exterior improvements including facades, signage, and landscaping, with 50% reimbursement (up to $50K for corridors, up to $30K citywide with $1,500 minimum).
• Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative (EASSI) Initiative providing technical and financial assistance to nonprofits and businesses for energy efficiency and solar renewable energy projects, including 15 solar installations and 30+ energy efficiency projects supported historically.
• Build South Bend Developer Toolkit Resource toolkit for property developers providing due diligence, financing sources, property sourcing, and development guidance within South Bend.
• Utility Assistance Program (UAP) Discount program offering reduced water and sewer bills for residents at or below 80% of the area median income.
• Police Services Law enforcement services protecting life, property, and personal liberties of all individuals within South Bend, led by the South Bend Police Department.
• Fire and Emergency Medical Services Fire suppression, emergency medical services, prevention, and training services delivered by 256 full-time firefighters across four divisions, answering 24,000+ calls annually across 42+ square miles.
• Venues Parks & Arts Services Parks, venues, and arts programming offering events, classes, and recreational experiences to South Bend residents, including programs for seniors and children.
• Animal Resource Center Services Animal shelter operations, pet adoption services, and animal control for residents of South Bend.
• Transparency and Performance Portal Platform providing public access to city performance metrics, open data, police transparency data, and public records.
• Together South Bend Engagement Platform Community engagement platform enabling residents to participate in local decision-making, access neighborhood information, and engage with city initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.6 million in combined public and private investment through EASSI program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Notre DamecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Partnership for AI-based reimagining of the 311 service system as part of the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge. The university provides research support and technical expertise for developing predictive models and data-sharing capabilities to proactively identify community needs and improve city service delivery.
• Indiana Energy Saver ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Federally funded initiative administered by the Indiana Office of Energy Development. The City adds local funds to expand the program's reach, enabling more residents to access eligible upgrades including home insulation, air sealing, upgraded heating and cooling systems, and water heaters installed by qualified local contractors.
• IFFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2025Partner in the Energy Assistance and Solar Savings Initiative (EASSI) providing technical and financial assistance to nonprofits and businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
• St. Joseph County Solid Waste Management DistrictminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty district provides recycling services to South Bend residents through Borden Waste-Away Services, separate from city trash collection services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City of Kalamazoo, Michigan: Mid-sized Michigan city with comparable population (~75,000) and a focus on public-private partnerships and innovation in municipal services. Comparable in scale and innovation-oriented posture.
• City of Evansville, Indiana: Indiana's third-largest city, similar population scale and Rust Belt manufacturing heritage, also running a 311 service system and active economic development programs. Provides direct regional benchmark for service delivery and budget management.
• City of Fort Wayne, Indiana: Indiana's second-largest city with a comparable Midwestern municipal profile, population of ~265,000, and similar mix of utility, public safety, and economic development services. Closest in-state comparable for benchmarking South Bend's operations and budget scale.
• City of Toledo, Ohio: Similar-sized Midwestern post-industrial city on the Great Lakes with a comparable population base (~270,000) and similar service portfolio including 311, utilities, and solid waste. Direct functional peer for operations and innovation comparison.
• City of Lansing, Michigan: Mid-sized state capital with a similar municipal service footprint, BIg City 311 system, and an emphasis on economic development and sustainability programs. Comparable on scale and service mix.
• City of Peoria, Illinois: Similar-sized Midwestern post-industrial city (~110,000) with a comparable municipal service portfolio. Useful direct peer for benchmarking operating costs and service innovation at a similar population scale.

Broad incumbents

• City of Dayton, Ohio: Larger Midwestern city with a similar Rust Belt profile and a comparable service mix. Known for its own innovation initiatives including data-driven service delivery, making it a useful benchmark for South Bend's AI-311 investment.
• City of Akron, Ohio: Larger Rust Belt city (~190,000) with similar aging-infrastructure challenges and a comparable municipal service portfolio including 311, utilities, and solid waste collection. Broader incumbent for benchmarking scale-up of services.

Regional players

• City of Flint, Michigan: Similar-sized Midwestern city facing legacy infrastructure and budget challenges. Comparable on scale and demographic profile, useful for benchmarking the tradeoffs between legacy infrastructure and innovation spending.
• City of Gary, Indiana: Indiana neighbor of South Bend with shared St. Joseph County/Lake Michigan regional context, but operates in a different demographic and economic trajectory. Provides regional comparison rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityofsouthbend
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cityofsouthbend
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityofSouthBend
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityofsouthbend
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-south-bend

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of South Bend