Working tirelessly to promote and support Valparaiso, the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation (VEDC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, partners with local groups to improve the quality of life throughout the city.
“Partnership with the VEDC entails connecting with key stakeholders within the city, as well as other stakeholders involved in major projects within Valparaiso,” said Denise Conlon, manager of public affairs and economic development for NIPSCO.
The VEDC has been connecting and collaborating on behalf of Valparaiso since 1984. This constant and focused collaboration is one of the key reasons that businessmen and women throughout the Region see the benefits of working together with the VEDC.
“When we expanded our operations into Valparaiso, we recognized that the VEDC provided a valuable service to businesses and to the community at large,” said Tom Long, president of Northwestern Indiana Telephone Co. (NITCO).
Values provided include creating strategic partnerships, identifying economic drivers, and advocating for business and community alike. This can be accomplished through advocacy and marketing. It’s part of why the VEDC and their partners refer to Valparaiso as “The Perfect Place.”
This is especially true for lifelong Valparaiso residents who see the benefits of the VEDC.
“My dad served as the president of the Valpo Chamber, and when they asked for me to serve on the Chamber and VEDC boards in 2021, it was a no-brainer,” said Matthew Welter, owner of Wayne Enterprises and Dormy House.
A key way that the VEDC supports development in Valparaiso is by working with new, incoming businesses and supporting city initiatives–both of which increase the economic outlook for all of Valparaiso.
“When a company or employer is looking at Valparaiso, they are almost always also looking at other local and nationwide communities,” Welter said. “If not for the VEDC, there would be no point of contact to help educate these employers on the benefits of Valpo versus other communities.”
As a board member, Conlon is active in the VEDC’s mission and day-to-day operations.
“I attend regular meetings to gain knowledge of progress, concerns on projects underway and those planned,” Conlon said. “As potential new businesses look at Valparaiso to call home, I am able to share how NIPSCO can best serve them.”
Since the VEDC’s inception, Valparaiso has grown and expanded into the busy city it is today all the while, keeping the ‘hometown’ flair that it is known and loved for.
“Valparaiso continues to be a very vibrant city in Northwest Indiana,” Conlon said. “With the economic development appetite continuing to be popular in Northwest Indiana, it is important that Valparaiso continues to aggressively market all potential sites for new developments.”
That’s where the VEDC’s long-term vision comes in. Committed to balance and forward progress, the VEDC is always 10 steps ahead in its effort to make Valparaiso the best it can be.
“Building quality of life through parks and new downtown assets like the pavilion and Central Park are tremendous economic drivers,” Long said. “With the VEDC assisting and promoting these projects, Valparaiso will continue to grow and prosper.”
To donate, express an interest in membership or learn more about the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation, visit valpoedc.com.
