Business leaders and top economic minds from around the Region and the state at large gathered at Valparaiso University on Tuesday, October 29 for Engage Northwest Indiana. Organized by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), the event provided a forum to highlight the strength of the Region’s economy and offered insight into the explosive growth of Indiana as an economic heavyweight.
Engage is a year-long event series, with sessions occurring in communities around the state. Valparaiso University and Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) hosted Tuesday’s session, which starred Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg as its keynote speaker. It also featured a panel of local leaders, including VEDC Board Member George Douglas, moderated by broadcaster and journalist Gerry Dick, host of the Emmy award-winning program “Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.”
“Anything we can do to be close to the secretary of commerce and his staff is so crucial to developing good communication with the state,” said Rex Richards, President of VEDC. “If they know us and we know them, they can be very helpful in providing us with leads for businesses that want to locate in Indiana.”
In his presentation, Rosenberg noted that Indiana is setting records in committed investment year after year – with over $38 billion of investments committed to the state this year alone. Average wages for Hoosiers have also climbed from $18.83 in 2005, to $37.31 in 2024. The state’s economy is rapidly growing and diversifying, and Rosenberg stressed that average Hoosiers will not be left behind by it all.
“This means we have an increased tax base to invest in schools and other services at the state level,” he said. “It means more revenue for locals to fund quality of life and population growth initiatives. It means more job opportunities for Hoosiers, from students looking to stay in Indiana to those looking to scale up into new careers. It means new opportunities for small businesses, from the supply chain to amenities. It means new cultural offerings across the state.”
Rosenberg and the panelists also called attention to specific local achievements, such as the $1 billion Microsoft Azure data center set to arrive in La Porte, and the recent completion of the over $600 million South Shore Line Double Track Project. George Douglas, director of development for the City of Valparaiso, took part in the panel and praised his fellows for their efforts.
“This room is filled with great people who are moving economic development,” he said. “Growth isn’t led by any one entity or initiative, it’s a group thing. There’s been a lot to celebrate and a lot of good things that have happened in Northwest Indiana, and there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic about the future.”
Mayor of Michigan City and panelist Angie Nelson Deuitch echoed Douglas’ thoughts. She focused on the importance of collaboration, and the cascading benefits that flow from regional successes.
“If something good happens for Michigan City, something good happens for Northwest Indiana,” she said. “We’re all trying to build a better workforce. We’re all trying to figure out housing. What better way to communicate that than places like Engage, where we have all the movers and shakers ready to talk about what’s next for them? We should be keeping each other more informed. It'll leverage our money for one thing, but it’ll also leverage the capabilities of our workforce, which is the most needed resource.”
The networking opportunity Engage offered proved incredibly popular. Attendees moved around the room, striking up conversations and talking shop with business leaders they rarely get the chance to meet.
“It’s really important for the IEDC and other state entities to hear our stories, and see the momentum that’s happening in the Region,” said Lorri Feldt, regional director of the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center. “An event like this is the perfect opportunity for that to all take place. The people here are like a team that is trying to support business, growth, and job creation in our area.”
The Engage Indiana series will move to Elkhart for its next session, before traveling to Indianapolis on December 12 for the grand finale.
“Let me extend my sincerest gratitude to you all for elevating Indiana’s economy and cultivating our communities,” Rosenberg said. “Thank you for investing in our workforce and our talent pipeline, and thank you for all that you do to make Indiana a better place for current and future generations.”
To learn more about the Indiana Economic Development Corporation iedc.in.gov. For more information on the Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation, visit valpoedc.com, and for more on Valparaiso University, check valpo.edu.
