There have been a wide variety of businesses, organizations, and communities that have been giving back to others and making Northern Indiana the best place it can be.
Northern Indiana continues to grow and prosper due to the determination and relentless impact community members are making throughout the year. Those sacrifices have not gone unnoticed, and we love shining a spotlight on those that go the extra mile to make the community a more positive place.
In no particular order, here are the top 10 community articles on Portage.Life to recap the good news in 2024!
City of Portage works towards Community Crossings Matching Grant
The City of Portage is hard at work preparing for summer and the Indiana Department of Transportation’s annual Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG).
Each year the Indiana Department of Transportation awards matching grants to Indiana cities for their local road projects. This work is part of a statewide effort to ensure Indiana citizens and visitors have access to 21st-century infrastructure.
Porter County Community Foundation supports Porter County ‘for generations to come’
Every day, people across Porter County depend on dozens of nonprofit organizations. They keep people fed, sheltered, educated, employed, and much more. Budgets are often tight for these essential organizations, and they depend on the support of generous community members to continue providing and expanding their services.
The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) is our county’s community foundation dedicated to partnering with individuals and organizations that would like to offer support to nonprofit organizations that matter to them and to provide leadership to our community. Founded in 1996, PCCF uses the power of endowment funds to help generous, philanthropic individuals turn an initial gift into a perpetually expanding well of support for organizations and causes the donor cares about.
Strack & Van Til supports local schools with its Apples for the Students program
A key fixture in Northwest Indiana since 1959, Strack & Van Til has always believed that providing for the community goes a long way. Through its Apples for the Students program, Strack & Van Til does just that.
Apples for the Students is a program that allows schools to earn free educational equipment by doing what they already do – purchasing groceries week in and week out.
Making it easy to join and earn, participating schools register through Strack & Van Til’s website. Then, members of the school community simply collect Strack & Van Til receipts throughout the participation period.
Porter County Animal Shelter’s mascots encourage community to engage with shelter
Porter County’s Animal Shelter supports and takes in over 1,000 homeless animals every year. Working tirelessly to find forever homes for each and every one, Shelter Director Jen Schaafsma and her team are excited to welcome mascots Nacho the cat and Biggsy the dog to their team.
City of Portage to open library garden for all to enjoy
Portage community members will soon be reading and gathering while enjoying the summer weather and beautiful plants. The City of Portage currently has a project underway for all community members to enjoy – a library garden is being constructed on the south side of the Portage Public Library. This library garden will facilitate learning among community members of all ages and provide a gathering space for community events as well.
This project was started by the Portage Redevelopment Commission under previous Mayor Sue Lynch, and current Mayor Austin Bonta was able to continue the facilitation of the project.
City of Portage cuts ribbon on Founders Square Park renovations before first Market on the Square of summer
With summer in full swing in the Region, the City of Portage was happy to unveil several new additions and renovations to Founders Square Park ahead of the first Market on the Square. The park was officially opened to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The renovations have been planned for some time but only recently came to fruition thanks to continued efforts from the City to raise funding.
Tilly’s wagging tail and loving temperament changes the game for the Portage Police Department
The City of Portage Police Department wanted to have a dog around the station that could help people in a way other than the role of patrol dogs. Chief Michael “Mike” Candiano expressed his interest in having a therapy dog to brighten up the station and help ease stress or anxiety. After sharing his interest with the station and having conversations with Major Mark Monks, they began looking into finding a trained therapy dog.
Monks discovered that the Valparaiso University Police Department had two therapy dogs they had adopted from an organization out of Brevard County, Florida called Paws and Stripes College. The program, run through the county sheriff’s department, selects dogs from the local shelter and tests them on basic commands and their temperament. If the dog is chosen to continue, it begins a four-month training period where jail officers, canine staff, and selected inmates transform the dog into a productive and inspiring member of an agency’s staff.
Ribbon cutting marks opening of Geminus Head Start Early Learning Academy in Porter County
On Thursday, August 22, Geminus Head Start, a member of Regional Care Group, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Geminus Head Start Porter County Early Learning Academy.
This event marked a new chapter in early childhood education and community support as it featured tours of the new facilities and an introduction to the programs offered.
Dr. Karen Carradine, vice president of early childhood services at Geminus, and Bill Trowbridge, CEO of Regional Care Group, were among the key speakers.
Porter County Community Foundation Continues to Grow and Meet Local Needs
For nearly thirty years, the Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) has invested in the future of Porter County because of the philanthropy of many individuals with a shared guiding principle of strengthening our community through lasting generosity and leadership.
Founded in 1996, PCCF formed in response to a challenge issued by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment. Lilly Endowment’s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative promised to grant $500,000 to any Indiana community that could raise $1 million in matching donations. Porter County met that challenge.
Behind the scenes with the Porter County Emergency Management Agency
Although many residents don’t know the name Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Porter County’s EMA has a dedicated team of men and women preparing day and night to keep everyone safe.
A key part of the greater Porter County Government, the EMA plays a critical role in preparing for and responding to a variety of emergencies.
