From the Desk of...
News and Topics of Interest

Most of us in Northwest Indiana are all too painfully aware of the deteriorating condition of our local economy.  Headlines in all the papers have painted a bleak picture for our economic future.  The future isn't good, or is it?  What can we do to bring about an economic circumstance that takes advantage of the very reasons that created the interest in locating here by the steel industry so many years ago?  

We have begun a process that produces an economic strategy for the redevelopment of Northwest Indiana in the 21st century.  We've needed it for years, but have not really recognized how critical it is to develop such a strategy until we have seen our steel industry fall apart around us.  The process in which we are engaging - to produce ideas for our region's economic future - must be collaborative.  No one segment of our regional community has the answer, but together we can shape a vision what will carry us to the future.  The reasons that brought the steel industry here in the place, particularly our strategic geographic location, have not changed.  We need to take advantage of our strategic geographic position, but this time we have to do it in the context of a three-state Heartland economy and pay particular attention to our place in the global economy.  With a restructuring of our state and local tax accomplished, I believe that we can use this to great advantage in our economic redevelopment.

Several months ago, Gary's Mayor and NIRPC Chairman, Scott King, sought the counsel of a few Northwest Indiana leaders and asked the question, "Could we create a group to begin a collaborative process of developing strategies to reverse the current trend, to develop strategies which would be from the ground up, and participative coming from a group that was broadly representative of all of Northwest Indiana's interests with the whole region as its frame of reference?"  The answer from the assembled group was a resounding, "Yes".

Since the first of the year, with the leadership of Mayor King and a great assist from Purdue Calumet's Chancellor, Howard Cohen, about 60 people have begun meeting on a regular basis to forge new visions for a sustainable economic future that will build on the very reasons that caused the steel industry to locate here in the first place.  This time of crisis and change is an opportunity which can be used positively to secure a new revitalized economy for our region, an economy that places us at the center of the global heartland.  

The Lake County Workforce Investment Board, represented by its Chair, Dewey Pearman of the Construction Advancement Foundation, and "CEO" Jim McShane, have made some funds available to NIRPC to support this "Northwest Initiative."  Pearman acknowledged, "our region's proximity to Chicago, access to Lake Michigan and its almost unlimited supply of water, strategic transportation system, and a diverse population, represent the foundation from which to build a new economy."

Although publicly led, the group itself is a widely participative one; academics, environmentalists, big business, industry, chambers of commerce, labor, utilities, the Northwest Indiana Forum, and yes, just citizens.  "All are welcome", says Mayor King.  He recently emphasized the importance of participation in this process.  "Our process is open - there is room for everyone.  Our goal is to regain the title first identified by Indiana University Economist Morton Marcus when he referred to our region as the 'Keystone of the Continent'".

James E. Ranfranz, Executive Director, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC)                                                                    

Read previous From the Desk of... pages

Return to MPO Council main page.