The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has given official approval to a $2.8 million request from the University of Saint Francis to assist in funding the USF Downtown project, which will celebrate its opening on August 16.

The project includes renovations to the former Chamber of Commerce building at 826 Ewing Street, which will become the new USF Business Center, housing the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Historic Woman’s Club.

USF Downtown also includes the university’s new Music Technology facilities inside the former Scottish Rite building. State of the art performance and recording spaces were designed with the help of community partner Sweetwater Sound.

Over 300 faculty, students and staff will work and study in the newly renovated buildings when classes begin at the end of August.