On the evening of Wednesday, April 2, Mayor of Hobart Josh Huddlestun presented his second State of the City address at County Line Orchard. Hobart residents, city staff, and elected officials from across Northwest Indiana were in attendance. Iron Workers Local 395 was the venue sponsor, while Eichorn & Eichorn, LLP Attorneys at Law and Lochmueller Group were among the food sponsors and presenting sponsors respectively.
Before starting his address, Huddlestun presented three individuals with “Unsung Hero,” “Community Impact,” and “Employee of the Year” awards respectively in recognition of their willingness to go above and beyond in their efforts to support Hobart and its residents during 2024.
Huddlestun emphasized the importance of free-flowing communication between his staff and the rest of the Hobart population.
“I’m always preaching in my office about how we need to prioritize fiscal responsibility, public safety, and quality of life above all else,” Huddlestun said. “We live by those tenets every day here in Hobart. Over the past year, we’ve tried to ensure that we’re reaching out to our public to keep them informed about what’s going on in the city. We maintain open communication with them because we want to hear about what matters to them. They are our constituents, our residents, and, in theory, our customers. Whether they are offering us a complaint or an ‘attaboy,’ we want to be as responsive to them as possible.”
During his address, Huddlestun highlighted the Hobart Fire Department’s high-school mentorship program, lauding it as an excellent way to promote community in Hobart. He also listed how the Maria Reiner Senior Center’s group outings and other programs have benefited its over 750 members. He also highlighted the benefits of Hobart’s Open Gov online portal, which allows individuals and organizations to apply for permit applications, make payments, manage assets, and submit planning projects outside of City Hall’s operating hours.
“Hobart is more than a destination: it is a place to call home,” Huddlestun said. “We’re finding better ways to tell the story of this great city. We’ve embraced a fresh modern look that will revitalize the City of Hobart’s branding. Every detail of our new logo was designed with care and excellent craftsmanship. Our new branding reflects our community’s growth, diversity, and bright future while staying true to our city’s rich history. It reflects our vision of ‘tradition meets modern living’ as well.”
Huddlestun also discussed some of the exciting building and development projects that are taking place in Hobart. These include the continued development of Hobart’s Route 30 corridor and the commercial remodel of the Team Honda dealership and the St. Mary Medical Center. He played a 3D rendering of the interior of the proposed Public Bar & Rec Hobart location, expressing his optimism that the venue will only enhance the city’s historic downtown. He also showed a video titled “Hobart Has It,” which showcases the city’s diverse culture.
Huddlestun looks forward to the coming year with much anticipation as Hobart continues to work toward its vision of a “live, work, play” model.
“I have never been more optimistic about the future of Hobart than I am right now,” Huddlestun said. “The state of our city is extremely strong. I believe that we will see the largest economic investments in the history of Hobart in 2025. Our city council is supportive and we have people answering the calls for service in our community on a daily basis. That’s what communities and government are supposed to do. I am proud to stand before you today and say that the city of Hobart truly has it!”
Please visit cityofhobart.org to stay up-to-date on City of Hobart’s upcoming projects and events.