Congressman seeking $11M in federal funds for Northwest Indiana projects

Northwest Indiana's congressman has requested more than $11 million in federal funds to help meet the needs of local governments and police departments, and to improve air, rail and water infrastructure across the Region.

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, is seeking the money through Community Project Funding requests, more commonly known as earmarks, that are expected to be part of the House appropriations measures that will fund the federal government during the 2025 budget year.

"I am grateful for the inclusion of these federal funding requests for transformational projects to create work and wealth throughout Indiana's 1st Congressional District," Mrvan said.

"Thank you to all of the Northwest Indiana stakeholders for your diligence to identify these worthy initiatives that will support economic development, create good-paying job opportunities and increase public safety in our region. I look forward to continuing to work with all of my congressional colleagues to finalize these measures in an expedient and bipartisan fashion."

Mrvan's funding requests in the next federal budget are less than the $45 million in federal funds he secured for Northwest Indiana in 2022, the $20.5 million Mrvan obtained for Lake, Porter and northwest LaPorte counties in 2023, and the $16 million he brought home in 2024, records show.

That's due in part to Republicans taking control of the House after the 2022 elections and subsequently choosing to allocate a majority of community projects funding to GOP representatives, including many who previously condemned spending earmarks.

Ultimately, any earmark must be approved by both the House and the Democratic-controlled Senate, and be signed into law by Democratic President Joe Biden, to be funded.

Here's a list of the projects for which Mrvan has requested federal funding for Northwest Indiana:

• $2.5 million to support partnerships between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Region communities for addressing critical water, sanitary sewer and storm water infrastructure improvements.
• $1.2 million for Purdue University Northwest to purchase equipment for the Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation and to enhance initiatives supporting cutting-edge technologies for domestic steel and manufacturing industries.
• $1.1 million for Cedar Lake to construct a sanitary sewer interceptor to bolster the health and safety of residents by increasing sanitary flow capacity and improving water quality.
• $1 million for the Crown Point Police Department to enhance operations through the purchase of new radios.
• $850,000 for the Gary/Chicago International Airport to increase cargo capacity by constructing and expanding a heavy cargo logistics apron for multiple users.
• $850,000 for the Gary Redevelopment Commission to demolish the former Ivanhoe Elementary School.
• $670,000 for Schererville Police Department radio replacement.
• $500,000 for Michigan City's Westside Opportunity Hub Project that aims to transform a blighted structure into a community resource hub.
• $488,000 to equip Hobart Police officers and detectives with body worn cameras.
• $400,000 each to the Griffith, LaPorte and Valparaiso police departments for new radios and other technology upgrades.
• $306,000 for the Dyer Police Department to enhance radio communications by eliminating frequency interruptions.
• $250,000 for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) to design a fully accessible, high-level platform at the new Gary Metro Center Station on the South Shore Line.
• $150,000 for officer body cameras at the East Chicago Police Department.