The Burns Harbor International Port in Portage could easily be described as a hidden gem in the Region. Home to more than 30 companies, the Port is a major source of economic impact for the area and provides thousands of jobs directly to the community, who are free to explore the beauty of the Port at any time.
“It's an incredible place. People have heard about it, but very few people have driven into it,” Andy Maletta, executive director of the Portage Economic Development Corporation (EDC), said. Maletta focuses on economic development with the Port and helps bring new businesses into Portage. He also encourages everyone to check out what the Port has to offer.
“There is a public area where people can go and fish in Lake Michigan. It's worth taking a ride in and seeing what is there,” said Maletta.
Maletta shared that one main focus of his job is workforce development with Burns Harbor. Each year he partners with local schools to provide tours to students and not only shows off the incredible work that happens at the Port, but also highlight the kind of jobs available to students in the community there once they are in the workforce.
“We have our 360 programs and work with Ivy Tech and other business partners to showcase jobs available to our high school students in the community. It's eye-opening to people who haven't seen it,” Maletta said.
Burns Harbor is the largest of three international shipping ports in Indiana. The Port was established in the early 1970s and welcomes nearly 400 barges every year, in addition to plenty of other ships, truck traffic, and rail traffic, all focused on delivering goods to the Region. Most of the cargo that comes in through the Port is industrial-related, a large percentage of which is related to the steel mills housed there, but they also see a large amount of construction material and agricultural material. When all areas of Burns Harbor are considered, it is easy to see the substantial economic impact that they have on the Region.
“When you look at the Port, it's very important to us in Portage. Their economic impact is over five billion dollars when you combine all of the work done there,” Maletta shared.
The cargo brought into Burns Harbor can go to support work done anywhere in the state. Businesses located directly in Portage might often use materials delivered through it, or, as Maletta shared, the windmills that can be seen while driving down I-65. These were all brought in through the Port and transported to where they needed to go from there. These materials can also come to Northwest Indiana from anywhere in the world.
“I don’t think people realize the magnitude of the ships that come in. Most come from European countries, really far away places. It’s fascinating to hear how the ships make their way through and into Portage Indiana,” Maletta said.
For more information on the Portage EDC, visit portagein.org, and for more information on Burns Harbor, visit portsofindiana.com.
