Region partnerships create opportunities to thrive

As the federal Representative for Indiana’s First Congressional District, I believe Northwest Indiana is well positioned to continue to make transformational investments and connect our regional economy to Chicago and Michigan. We have recently witnessed population growth, and with our skilled workforce, strong organized labor, and collaboration with all levels of government, non-profit organizations, private sector, and academic institutions, I know we can continue to leverage our assets of today for the benefit of current and future generations.

In assessing our strengths, we must note that Northwest Indiana leads the nation in steel production. As the Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I am proud to advocate for our domestic steel industry. Every community in our area benefits when our integrated steel manufacturers along the Lake Michigan shoreline are operating at full capacity. Due to the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, and the strongest Buy American provisions in our nation’s history, there is expected growth in the industry. Today, we have evidence that the City of Gary is home to a nearly $15 billion steel company, and we must redouble our efforts and build on this momentum that is drawing new workers and families to Northwest Indiana.

Our past success to implement transformational investments has only been possible through collaboration, and we must use this model for future successes and to cement our leadership role in the nation. It was my predecessor, Congressman Pete Visclosky, who challenged leaders to collaborate to extend and expand the South Shore Rail Line, and our region met the challenge. We are nearing the completion of the single largest investment in our public transportation infrastructure since the creation of the Borman Expressway. With the completion of the Double Track and West Lake projects, it is anticipated that the private sector investment from transit-oriented development will exceed the public funds used to expand the corridor from Michigan City to Gary, and complete the Hammond Gateway Station that will allow travelers to access Dyer, Chicago, and South Bend. This is the collaborative and cost-effective model that we must replicate for continued success in Northwest Indiana.

As a Member of Congress, I have applied this principle in my efforts to secure federal Community Project Funding requests for the First Congressional District. Specifically, I worked with like-minded municipalities, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions, who partnered to make significant investments in our economic and transportation infrastructure, public safety, invaluable social service programs, and career readiness.

Notably, I am proud of our collaborative efforts at the federal, state, and local level to successfully support enhanced operations at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. Our actions to provide emergency preparedness equipment and fund an apron expansion project empowers the Gary Airport to attract more economic activity, including the recent acquisition of the Griffith Airport, additional cargo, and increased interest from passenger airlines.

I also am pleased to work with municipalities to secure federal funding in the House Appropriations Committee to support public safety and local law enforcement agencies, including for Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Porter County, and Whiting. These federal funds will ensure our brave men and women first responders have much needed resources to do their job as safely and effectively as possible.

Further, throughout my career as an elected official, I have strived to keep in mind and support individuals with developmental disabilities and those who are in times of need. That is why I am proud to have been able to support the efforts of Paladin in Michigan City and Opportunity Enterprises in Valparaiso, which provide essential support services for such individuals. As we reflect on the strength of our region, let us highlight the vibrant, dedicated, hard-working individuals and supporters of these organizations who are meeting and excelling in providing exemplary programs and care.

Our region also is fortunate to include stellar academic institutions of higher education that are preparing students with needed skills for new careers in a growing economy. For example, I welcomed the opportunity to request projects for Valparaiso University and the University of St. Francis to help students excel in healthcare, and also supported Ivy Tech with a program to expand educational access and ensure academic success for non-traditional students. I also am grateful for the tremendous steel-manufacturing research occurring at Purdue Northwest’s Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation. Under the direction of Dr. Chenn Zhou, I have been proud to support their applications for federal grants under the Department of Energy to develop innovative domestic manufacturing technologies with commercial applications. Their success is demonstrated by their ability to attract talented faculty, staff, and students who have gone on to successfully complete more than 410 research projects.

After our people, our next greatest resource is our environment. We possess 40 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, three river corridors, and the natural wonders in the Indiana Dunes National Park. In order to attract population, industries, and improve our quality of space, it is imperative that we address the environmental legacy costs associated from previous generations. Recently, I was honored to host the EPA in Gary to highlight the Grand Calumet River restoration and that the remaining polluted reaches of the waterway will be fully restored by the end of the decade. This will lead to the continued return of flora and fauna and prove to not only benefit our environment, but also our regional economy.

Partnership of public, private, and non-profit organizations was also required to secure a Clean Hydrogen Hub designation by the Department of Energy in Whiting. This thrilling, intergenerational project will leap our region and workforce into the next chapter of manufacturing prowess. As we look to the future, the development of hydrogen energy will ensure our region continues to lead the nation in steel production, will provide a cleaner energy source that benefits consumers, and drive further innovation and manufacturing jobs in Northwest Indiana.

These highlighted transformational investments demonstrate what is possible when we work collaboratively, and I look forward to building on these successes.