Page 43 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

Michigan City Area Schools and the A.K. Smith ing at institutions like the A.K. Smith Career Center, office has been reaching out to companies about
Career Center are preparing students for careers which offers vocational, professional and dual-credit corporate sponsorships.
in welding, machining, the culinary arts and man- classes to high school students from across LaPorte
ufacturing so they’re ready to hire right out of high County. “It’s another economic development tool to add to
school, Orlowski said. the tax base and population,” Meer said. “It adds
“Segments of the community need more prepa- extra value to homes in Michigan City. If you have
“The EDC and the Chamber partner to send MCAS ration,” Meer said “We went after these grants for two children who qualify, that adds $40,000 to the
th
th
7 - 8 grade students to the International Manu- those who need more preparation, whether to learn value of your home.”
facturing Technology Show in Chicago each year a new trade or familiarize themselves with new tech-
to give the students exposure to manufacturing on nology. We’re getting people ready for the building The city has been building momentum as it’s brought
an international level,” Orlowski said. “Students are trades like ironworkers, pipefitters and heavy equip- in $1 billion in public and private investment over the
bused to McCormick Place and are able to interact ment operators. There’s a big need for construction past five years, including a $240 million hospital by
with manufacturing businesses on a one-on-one lev- workers and it’s a good career. We want students to Franciscan Health- Michigan City just off Interstate
el. You can see the light bulbs go off when they real- be ready to ready to go to work or an apprenticeship 80/94.
ize that there are so many products made all around to brush up their skills.”
the world and they can be part of that production, The city’s been clearing away buildings between the
making things that they never realized they could.” In 2014, the La Porte County Career & Technical lakefront Washington Park and downtown to clear
Education program (A.K. Smith Career Center) the way for redevelopment as it adds more lakefront
Michigan City is investing in quality of life opened the state’s first Energy Academy to prepare parking.
Michigan City’s economy has been booming in re- students for careers at the utility NIPSCO, a subsidi-
cent years. ary of the erstwhile-Fortune 500 Company NiSource An infusion about $150 million in private-sector in-
in nearby Merrillville. vestment is expected when South Shore Line com-
“In 2012, unemployment was at 10 percent in muter rail double tracking comes through, speeding
Michigan City,” Mayor Ron Meer said. “Right now, “In vocational areas, industry-specific instructors up travel times to Chicago, Meer said. Transit-orient-
it’s 4.4 percent. A lot of the major employers have work right with our educators,” he said. “They have ed development is expected to bring in more Illinois
‘help wanted’ signs out right now. Major employers a feeder system. Major manufacturers even bring residents and millennials, many of whom may live in
and small businesses are looking for full-time help.” some of their equipment into the school so students or near downtown.
Over the last few years, Michigan City has worked can get prepared to work on it if they choose to go Such investments have helped draw in companies
to bring in workforce training grants, offer Michigan right into the workforce.” like Sera Solutions, a website design, social media
City High School graduates scholarships that offset management and digital advertising company that
the cost of college tuition and boost the quality of The school system offers many dual-credit programs relocated to Michigan City and then decided to ex-
life, Meer said. and graduates can go on to Ivy Tech Community pand there.
College or Purdue University Northwest “on the
“We’re trying to grow the climate for economic de- city’s doorstep” in Westville. Michigan City is making “It’s a good location for employees to commute
velopment and job creation,” he said. “We have a it more affordable for its residents to go off to col- from Northwest Indiana, southwest Michigan and
vision for making the city a place that attracts new lege with the Michigan City Promise Scholarship that the South Bend/Mishawaka area,” Sera Solutions
residents and businesses.” offers all graduates of Michigan City High School Founder and Chief Executive Officer Seth Spencer
who are the children of Michigan City homeown- said. “It’s convenient for employees and clients.
Michigan City and the nearby city of LaPorte recent- ers $5,000 a year for four years to any accredited We’ve grown into significantly larger commercial
ly landed a $677,000 Skill UP Indiana! grant from college or trade school in Indiana. It’s funded with space because of the local talent pool, the availabil-
the state government for manufacturing job train- revenue from the Blue Chip Casino, and Meer’s ity of interns from Purdue Northwest and Ivy Tech,
and the quality of life. They’re revitalizing a plaza
across from us right in the heart of downtown, which
makes the decision to expand here easier. It makes
it a nice place to work, where our employees have
places to eat and things to do nearby.”

Michigan City listens
Sera Solutions recently moved to a larger space on
Franklin Street in the Uptown Arts District in down-
town Michigan, adding 2,000 square feet and 10 to
15 new employers over the next few years.
Spencer said that’s largely because the community
has provided the employees and interns needed to
grow his business.

“There’s a focus on STEM in education in Michi-
gan City and LaPorte County,” he said. “Fourth and
fifth-graders are learning coding and apps. They are
unbelievably skilled.”

Sera Solutions has been able to hire local graduates
who are adaptable and ready to learn.
“In software development and graphic design, em

FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018 43