The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce was excited to recognize 19 local businesses responsible for the economic growth of their town. Thursday's Salute to Business luncheon, the 13th of its name, explored the ways in which each company comes together to make a stronger, smarter community.
“The purpose is to recognize Chamber members who have increased employment, made capital investment improvements, and who have been in business for numerous years,” said retired Chamber President Mike Seitz.” We also reward a business for their civic contributions.”
Five businesses in the Chamber were awarded for their increase in employment. Centier Bank, Harbour Trust and Investment Management Company, Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions, INC, Rieth-Riley Construction Co, INC, and Larson-Danielson Construction Company, INC were the leaders in this area. Throughout the entire Chamber, 44 jobs were added to the town this year. 17 more were projected for 2017.
Keynote speaker Dr. Peter Linden, the Michigan City Campus President of Ivy Tech Community College, stressed the importance of education in the workplace.
“Indiana has set the ambitious goal of 60% of the workplace having a secondary education or [equivalent professional certification] by 2025. To build a talent pool that meets the needs of the business industry, we need to focus on education… A coordinated effort will mitigate trend mutation, developing and sustaining a viable labor force.”
Jaeger-Unitek, Rieth-Riley, and Larson-Danielson also won Gold awards for their increase in Capital Investments and their years of service to the La Porte community. $315,300 were invested into the community by Chamber members in 2016, and another $839,200 will be invested in 2017.
Other companies to be awarded for their years of service were Apple Sound Productions (10 years), Briarwood Apartments (5), County-Wide Properties, LLC (15), Cutler Funeral Home (120), The La Porte Jaycees (70), Kiwanis Club of La Porte (95), Edward Jones-Jon Salisbury (10), Parents and Friends, Inc (40), Parkinson and Hinton, Inc (65), Solid Waste District of La Porte County (25), Strategic Management (10), United Way of La Porte County (20), and Works in Motion Dance Co, LLC.
“I’m trying to change things so that people are even more involved and informed,” said newly appointed President Rita Mronzinski. “We get together as a community. We network, we talk, and we have a good time. [Salute to Business] recognizes what the community is doing with employment and jobs. It’s important for the business community and the press to see what they’re doing for La Porte.”
The Corporation Citizenship of the Year Award went to Larson-Danielson Construction Company, Inc, for its “commitment to the community and… the many important contributions [they] have made.”
Larson-Danielson supports The Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation, the Purdue North Central Advisory Board, Habitat for Humanity, and many other local organizations. The Corporate Citizenship of the Year is only the latest recognition in a history of success.
“We’re honored to be recognized as a corporation,” said owner Timothy Larson. “We’re proud to be in a position that we can support these other organizations… We wouldn’t be in this position without the other businesses that have helped us over the years.”