SOUTH BEND, Ind.— Officials in St. Joseph County and the City of South Bend announced Thursday the creation of a new role to aid in intergovernmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff Rea, president and CEO of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce and former Mayor of Mishawaka, will take over the role as the COVID-19 Response Coordinator. 

Rea will help connect and coordinate relevant public and private sector entities in the community to respond to the pandemic. He will also provide daily briefings to executives of each local government regarding response efforts.

While he serves in the new role, Rea will remain an employee of the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce