AJ Bytnar may be the new director of economic development at the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (NWI RDA), but he's no stranger to the Region or the unique challenges of growing communities there.
"I'm from here," Bytnar said. "I went to Catholic schools growing up. My parents built a house in Portage, but really, I've been all over Lake and Porter County."
That deep-rooted connection serves Bytnar at the NWI RDA, where he drives projects that reshape entire communities.
Economic development, he explains, goes beyond business deals and blueprints.
"It's being the missing link, the capacity builder — helping projects grow and bring collaborative creative thinking," Bytnar said. "A big part is communication — making sure everyone at the table, public and private sector, trusts each other."
The NWI RDA has become increasingly important to Northwest Indiana's future, particularly as the Region seeks to improve connectivity to Chicago while developing its own economic strengths.
With the NWI RDA's focus on Transit Development Districts (TDD), Bytnar works across city boundaries. He understands Northwest Indiana's communities and is excited to support their growth.
"We've created a TDD steering committee," Bytnar said. "It's meant to be a place where folks can share ideas and best practices and support these conversations long-term."
The committee meets monthly and includes representatives from multiple municipalities, a departure.
To Bytnar, economic development means shared success.
"What's good for Hammond or East Chicago may also be good for Munster or Portage," Bytnar said. "These investments don't recognize municipal borders, and they benefit the whole Region."
Bytnar likens his work to building foundations.
"Someone once said, ‘It's not about the chicken or the egg — it's about having a nest,’" Bytnar said. "We're trying to provide that nest."
That foundation includes understanding post-pandemic shifts in how people live, work, and move.
"There's a lot of foundational work right now," Bytnar said. "We're looking at how macroeconomics, interest rates, labor markets — even AI — are changing development patterns."
Before joining the NWI RDA, Bytnar worked with several municipalities on economic development initiatives, which provided him with perspective on both local needs and regional opportunities.
His personal story mirrors the Region's resilience. When Bytnar and his wife decided where to settle down after meeting in graduate school, Northwest Indiana took the prize.
"This is where we wanted to raise our family," Bytnar said.
The couple now has two children, just 13 months apart.
With a passion for the Region and its people, Bytnar's leadership is creating ripple effects across multiple communities.
"There are gaps, and there are opportunities," Bytnar said. "The goal is to make those conversations happen collectively, not individually. That's how we move forward together."
The NWI RDA's work includes managing millions in state and federal funding for transportation and economic development projects throughout the Region.
As Northwest Indiana looks ahead, leaders like Bytnar — both deeply local and regionally minded — are helping shape what's next.
To learn more about the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, please visit in.gov/rda.
