South Bend Common Council to consider $2.7 million loan for Dinosaur attraction

The South Bend Common Council will discuss a potential $2.7 million loan for a proposed dinosaur museum, at its next regular meeting on Monday. 

Mark Tarner, owner of South Bend Chocolate Company and fore-front of the project, wants to bring the prehistoric tourist attraction and a chocolate factory to the 68-acre site off US 20 and US 31. 

It's expected to add 144 jobs and attract 150-thousand annual visitors. 

The Council, Redevelopment Commission, and Economic Development Commission would need to approve the loan. It could be forgiven if the attraction opens by June 30, 2024 and if developers invest more than $15.4 million into the project.