Eager representatives from members of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, nonprofits and municipality officials listened to some positive information shared about the state of Indiana and the Duneland area itself from Diane Thalmann, the economic development manager at NIPSCO and keynote speaker at Wednesday’s monthly Chamber luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chesterton.
Maura Durham, president of the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, said the idea to have Thalmann speak at this luncheon came from a conference in Indianapolis last month where the two learned about positive economic trends in the state.
“We thought we’d bring back what we know, because it is relevant to everyone in the room today,” Durham said.
Among the information shared is that the state of Indiana’s labor force is increasing “at a rate eight time that of the national economy” and that the state’s business retention and expansion motto is working, with 75-80 percent of Indiana Economic Development Corporation projects being business expansion related.
“You have an opportunity in this community to go out and know your businesses,” Thalmann said. “We need to know what our businesses are doing and where the new jobs are coming from.”
She discussed the “well-positioned” Duneland area, convenient to investors because of Coffee Creek, the lakefront and the Toll Road and I-94 interchanges.
“You have some great amenities,” Thalmann said. “The workforce always goes to places where they’d like to live.”
NIPSCO, according to Durham, has “always been a key partner in everything we do in economic development and getting infrastructure into the community.”
Thalmann said the motivation behind NIPSCO’s staunch support of economic development comes from their desire to grow their own company, which comes from others expanding to the 30 counties they serve in Northern Indiana.
“Our job is to find good people who do good things and help them do more of then,” Thalmann said - crediting the quote to NIPSCO Economic Development Director Don Babcock.
She also mentioned the LEDO (local economic development corporation) philosophy, dubbing Durham as the Duneland area’s go-to LEDO.
“The LEDO’s job is to sell the community,” she said.
In concluding, Thalmann offered the following advice for those looking to grow locally and regionally.
“Partner with local business, pay attention to the workforce and market regionally but sell locally,” she said.
Wednesday’s lunch was made possible by Porter Regional Hospital - the premier partner and the Duneland Family YMCA, the luncheon sponsor.
Bob Capehart, Duneland Family YMCA board president elect, spoke on the programs being offered at the YMCA prior to Thalmann’s address. He informed the group of 50 or so in attendance of the more than 400 people who visit the Y everyday (124,800 annual visits) and the 200+ families who have children enrolled in their six childcare facilities.
“The Y does a lot to keep the community active,” Capehart said. “We have a full range of day care for the kids, too. Any kid up to 9-10 years of age has an opportunity to be a part of before or after school care at the Y.”
Durham added that the Duneland Y is “not only a great partner for the Chamber, but the community as well.”