On Tuesday, January 23, hundreds of guests flocked to Journeyman Distillery in Valparaiso to attend the 2024 State of the City Address, hosted by the Valpo Chamber. Attendees braved the cold weather to dine together while celebrating the city’s achievements in 2023 and learn more about the mayor’s plans for the coming year.
An air of positivity filled the event hall at Journeyman. Mayor Jon Costas opened his remarks by joking that he had not expected to be giving another State of the City address after his final one in 2019, when he had originally planned to retire from city politics. He then shared his favorable outlook for Valparaiso’s future.
“Today, along with a palpable feeling of deja vu, I bring a strong sense of optimism about our city and its future,” Costas said. “Valparaiso continues to grow and mature in countless ways as we seek to provide a quality of life that our citizens deserve and our peers admire.”
One of the biggest announcements that Costas mentioned involves the former Boys and Girls Club on Jefferson Street, which was once the Gardner School. In the coming year, the Urschel Development Corporation will redevelop the old club into the Region’s first ever boutique downtown hotel.
“The Journeyman and Grand Gardener transformations are microcosms of Valparaiso's progress over the last 20 years,” Costas said.
This is the first time that the State of the City address was hosted at Journeyman Distillery, which opened for business last year. Bill Welter, founder and owner of Journeyman, expressed pleasure at having the opportunity to host the event at his establishment.
“I can’t praise the city enough,” Welter said. “They’re very pro-business. If you're looking to open a business, Northwest Indiana is a great place to do it. Both the state and the city of Valpo have been incredibly supportive of what we've been trying to achieve here at Journeyman.”
Lee Lane, the 2023 Valpo Chamber Board Chair offered comments to the crowd that helped explain the draw of Valparaiso to businesses.
“The chamber of commerce staff focuses its energy, attention and resources in building the chamber around you. But the vibrancy of the Valpo Chamber is an absolute reflection of who you are,” Lane said. “One of the things I've had the privilege to see and experience is just how many of you have truly stepped into the chamber and shaped it and made the chamber what it is today.”
After her remarks, Lane was awarded a plaque commemorating her service as board chair last year by Nick Larson, the 2024 board chair. Lane was not the only attendee to receive an award, however. Mayor Costas presented former mayor of Valparaiso Matt Murphy with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award on behalf of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. This award is the highest honor that the governor of Indiana can bestow.
“Thank you so much for this presentation, it means a lot to me,” Murphy said. “In my opinion, the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce and the business community in the city of Valparaiso are what make us stand out, not only among the cities of Indiana but also the cities of the Midwest.”
To keep up with the latest from the City of Valparaiso, visit ci.valparaiso.in.us.
The event was sponsored by the medical organizations Northwest Health, United Healthcare, and Community Healthcare System. 1st Source Bank, Avalon Springs, Larson-Danielson, NIPSCO, and Purdue University Northwest were also sponsors of the event.
