Page 43 - FDI Alliance International Magazine Summer 2020 Digital Interactive Issue

new developments the city has attracted in distance to Notre Dame and a plethora of Michigan City and the rest of the Region are
recent years. top colleges in Chicago.” business-friendly with a low cost of doing
“Michigan City is very business-friendly Michigan City has seen significant progress business and competitive taxation.
and made the process seamless,” Marbach in recent years that’s included a new Hospital “Currently a buyer’s market, Indiana business
America Inc. Chief Operating Officer just north of Interstate 94, a recent federal climate is one of the best in the Midwest and
Fernando Pires said. “The tax abatement Opportunity Zone designation that will provide rank usually in the top 10 across the United
will allow us to further reduce the overall tax incentives for new investment, and the States,” Ennis said. “Our taxes are low and
costs of this project and to demonstrate to our game-changing improvements coming to the barrier to entry for land ownership is lower
parent company in Germany that Michigan passenger rail to Chicago, Eaton said. than many areas in the Midwest.”
City, Indiana remains a favorable location “Our quality of life for both residents “With miles of pristine beach, many art
for manufacturing.” and visitors makes Michigan City a great galleries, an outlet mall, a lively dining scene,
Turkey-based Mikropor, a leading worldwide destination,” she said. “Michigan City has a and the excitement of gaming at the Blue
provider of quality filtration and purification little bit of everything from beaches, hiking Chip Casino Hotel Spa, Michigan City also
products for air, gas and liquid applications, trails, entertainment, great downtown, boasts an outstanding quality of life,” Ennis
recently invested $400,000 into a new breweries, wineries and we are steps away said. It offers many attractions at Washington
location in Michigan City. The company, from rural communities where there are Park, including a zoo, formal gardens, and
which manufactures compressor products like farms, camping, orchards, and a quieter the city’s iconic lighthouse that’s appeared
air intake filters and refrigerated air dyers, lifestyle or a train ride away from the big in millions of Instagram posts.
expanded by 100,000 square feet and created city life in Chicago.” “Nestled in the heart of the 61st National
16 new jobs. Shell Catalysts & Technologies, Michigan City is a major hub in the highly Park, Michigan City has beaches, hiking trails
a subsidiary of the multinational giant Royal industrialized metro area of Northwest Indiana, and a growing downtown to entice people
Dutch Shell, also invested more than $30 on the South Shore of Lake Michigan just to visit and stay,” Ennis said.
million in new machinery and equipment in its outside Chicago. The city has a hard-working and determined
Michigan City operations. The global leader “Northwest Indiana is ideally situated within workforce, Ennis said. Major employers have
in catalyst technology has captured as much a day’s drive to 80% of the U.S population,” been investing in job training and developing
as 30% of the global market and estimates Northwest Indiana Forum President Heather a talent pipeline.
“all molecules going into vehicles across the Ennis said. “Our deep freshwater port gives “Air and gas compressor manufacturing
world have a significant chance of touching access to the interstate waterway system is a major component of manufacturing in
material that came from Michigan City.” And as well as the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Michigan City and the surrounding area,”
the cable designer and manufacturer, Sanlo Lawrence Seaway and the Gulf of Mexico. said Erin Sweitzer, Communications Director
Inc., a subsidiary of Central Wire Industries, Our Class 1 rail service in conjunction with for the Indiana Economic Development Corp.
a Canadian Company, added 33 more our outstanding short-line service makes “A new partnership program at the high
jobs over the last three years and invested Northwest Indiana very attractive.” school, the Compressed Air Academy, will
$800,000 in new and rebuilt equipment at
its Michigan City factory, which has been a
springboard for entrance into new markets.
As part of the greater Chicagoland area,
Michigan City is perfectly situated in the heart
of the Midwest, Michigan City Chamber of
Commerce President Katie Eaton said.
“For manufacturers, or distribution facilities,
businesses located here have quick and easy
access to numerous North American markets,”
she said. “It is an ideal place for foreign
companies to locate their U.S. headquarters.
And, our location assists with access to great
talent. Not only does Northwest Indiana have
regional campuses of both Purdue University
and Indiana University but we are a short

43. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL