NIRPC nets $70K federal economic development grant

A $70,000 federal grant, announced recently by U.S. Rep Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, will enable a four-year-old economic development program to continue its work in Northwest Indiana.

The grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, part of the Department of Commerce, will support the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s economic development program.

“This money helps us to do a total add-value to economic development in the region,” NIRPC Executive Director Ty Warner said. “It enables us to work in the federal economic development space.”

NIRPC first received the federal economic development designation four years ago, after working more than 10 years — before Warner began there — to obtain it.

“We’re really thankful that it didn’t take longer to come,” Warner said.

Soon after NIRPC got the economic development designation, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and much of the region’s and nation’s economy shut down.

Then, federal funds enabled NIRPC’s economic development program to develop both a revolving loan program for businesses and a plan to help make the region’s economy more resilient to future disruptions.

Denarie Kane, NIRPC’s economic development coordinator, said two businesses received $50,000 each under the loan program. They have begun paying back the loans, and the funds then will be available to other businesses.

The resiliency program, developed by consultants and approved last December by NIRPC’s governing board, calls for improving the region’s infrastructure, attracting and retaining more jobs for skilled workers, and expanding the regional economy.

The resiliency program is “still a work in progress,” Kane said, as she works with groups and organizations in the region to advance various aspects.

One program she mentioned calls for improving access to broadband internet access to low-income households, including those in rural areas.

The Affordable Connectivity Program, run by the Federal Communications Commission, helps low-income households get access to the high-speed internet service that has become vital for education and business.

The program provides up to a $30 monthly discount on monthly internet services for qualifying households, and up to $100 to help them buy a computer, laptop or tablet.

“Any time I talk to one of our member communities,” Kane said, “I ask, ‘Would you please help advertise the Affordable Connectivity Program?’”