Governor Mike Braun shares optimistic vision for economic development in Lake County at LCEA-hosted event
On the afternoon of Thursday, April 3, Lake County Indiana Economic Alliance (LCEA) invited Indiana Governor Mike Braun to the Halls of St George in Schererville for a discussion about the state of economic development in Lake County. Among the 400 attendees were mayors, business executives, labor union members, and representatives of a multitude of local organizations. Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), Peoples Bank, Quantum Corridor, Schillings, Local 395, and Lee & Associates, numbered among the sponsors of this event.
Chris Salatas, President & CEO of LCEA, is of the opinion that this is an excellent time to hold an event like this.
"There's been a lot of economic development projects in Lake County recently," Salatas said. "We're attracting some very large projects. This is a great networking opportunity for bankers, elected officials, nonprofit executives, and government leaders. Our ultimate goal is to make everyone’s lives better. We’re very excited to talk with the governor and we want to learn how Lake County fits into the economic initiatives he plans to implement in Indiana. We’re extremely grateful for the partnerships we’ve formed over the years and the people who continue to support our mission of increasing economic development in Lake County.”
This is the first time that Braun, who is now 80 days into his administration, has come up to Northwest Indiana for an event since ascending to the governor seat. The event featured a casual “fireside chat” discussion between Salatas and Braun. During the talk, Braun reflected on how his previous experiences as an Indiana Senator, business owner, and school board member influence the decisions he makes as governor.
Paul Beneturski, Senior Vice President at Old National Bank and LCEA Chairman, emphasized the organization’s goal to drive economic growth while strengthening the business communities in Northwest Indiana.
“This event is about transparency,” Beneturski said. “It offers a look into the work LCEA is doing with local consultants, Lake County Commissioners, cities, towns, and municipalities in its efforts to bring economic development to Lake County. This is one of the biggest events we’ve held to date and it will help take us to the next level by giving LCEA more exposure. My hope is that everyone leaves having confidence in Governor Braun and what he’s trying to do and having learned more about LCEA.”
Braun discussed how he foresees the executive orders and actions he has signed during his first 80 days in office will help boost economic development across the state. Braun commended Lake County’s dynamic economy, lauding the small businesses, blue collar workers, and entrepreneurs who have supported it for decades. He closed his remarks by encouraging Lake County businesses to continue enterprising and to take advantage of the county’s natural resources and features.
Randy Palmateer, business manager of the Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, Lake County appointee to the Regional Development Authority, and LCEA secretary, stressed the importance of supporting all of the different factors that influence the Region’s economy.
“This is the first event of its kind for LCEA and it was a great success,” Palmateer said. “Given today’s turnout, it’s evident that people want to hear what’s going on in the Region. That’s great to see because people need to start focusing on local politics. Events like this keep people’s morale high. Economic development relies on three elements: the businesses that want to build these projects, the banks that provide the money for the project, and the workforce that actually constructs it. We all need to work together and Governor Braun delivered that message today.”
Vince Parisi, COO of NIPSCO, states that his organization is proud to be an LCEA member and looks forward to continuing to support LCEA and, by extension, Lake County in the coming years.
“Lake County is the county that NIPSCO lives and works in,” Parisi said. “We’ve been supporting LCEA for over a decade. The organization is made up of many great businesses and it has done much to drive the local economy already. Lake County is poised for incredible economic growth and development. We currently have all the infrastructure we need to move Lake County forward, so it’s just a matter of how much we can reach out and grasp. Lake County is a great place to work and live and we at NIPSCO want to help make it successful.”
For more information on LCEA’s upcoming events, projects, and announcements, please visit lcea.us.