For Portage Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) Executive Director Jim Fitzer, it is very important that Portage is filled with a lot of productive businesses. Being this week's Portage Life in the Spotlight, he told a little about himself and his career that makes him important to the community.
PEDCO's main goal is to bring new businesses into Portage to improve the local community and to grow the job base.
Fitzer said that PEDCO receives leads on businesses that might want to be located in Portage.
"We'll get leads from different places like the state of Indiana or the Nothwest Indiana forum saying 'We got somebody that is looking for "x,"' like a certain amount of land or a building and we'll complete all the information and send it in," Fitzer said.
"There really is no typical day in the life of, I mean it always varies. That's what's kind of fun about doing economic development, is that it kind of depends on what's going on or what kinds of activities are happening," Fitzer said.
On top of welcoming new businesses, FItzer says that PEDCO also works with their existing businesses to try and keep them healthy.
"We want to give them the tools that they need to be competitive out there," Fitzer said.
One of the things PEDCO is sponsoring is a Manufacturing/Career day at Portage High School on October 3rd.
The purpose of the Manufacturing/Career day is to show students what skills they might need to work certain jobs. Around 40 businesses will be attending Manufacturing/Career day.
According to Fitzer, it is also to help them realize that they need to pay attention in high school and make an effort to learn in their classes.
"When we talk to our local businesses, one of the key things they really need is a skilled workforce," Fitzer said.
On top of paying attention in high school, Fitzer also believes it is important for students to think of all their options including after going to college. 80 percent of students in Portage go to college and of that 80 percent, 50 percent come back to Portage.
Students can also learn important skills from apprenticeships.
Fitzer explained that PEDCO is helping students figure out what they would job they would like to have is their externships.
An externship is when a teacher from Portage High School spends a day with a manufacturer and reports back to the students what skills they will need to work there.
Another thing PEDCO does is takes videos of manufacturers and brings them to schools to show students.
Fitzer believes Portage has some wonderful assets that make businesses want to open up here. For example, it has great transportation such as U.S. 6 and Route 20, the Port of Indiana, which cargo vessels use, and the Southshore Commuter Line.
According to Fitzer, when a business relocates, the family has to enjoy the new area as well. He does not think that will be a problem, because some of Fitzer's favorite things about Portage include the bike trails and lakefront park. He also likes that it has a small town atmosphere but is so close to Chicago.
Fitzer's favorite part of his career is dealing with the people and the diversity of the manufacturers. He likes to help the city become stronger.
On top of working at PEDCO, Fitzer volunteers for many community boards, such as the board of directors at the Boy's and Girl's Club. He also donates to various projects.
Fitzer started working at PEDCO two years ago after dealing with public affairs at NIPSCO, where he dealt with communities.
Fitzer hopes that in the future Portage will continue to grow and more development will be done on the north side and the Port of Indiana. He has hopes that businesses that are no longer open will be continued to be torn down to make room for new businesses. He also sees a lot of opportunity and wants to see more activity downtown.