Page 44 - FDI Alliance International Magazine Summer 2020 Digital Interactive Issue

serve as a hiring pipeline for an industry that project aims to break ground in November allow fast-track development, bringing their
supports over 2,000 jobs in LaPorte County.” and work on the development for about 18 manufacturing business from discovery call
The city also is seeing a surge in public sector months. to ribbon cutting in under eight months.”
investment that includes the double tracking “You could live four blocks from the train, The city’s diversified economy has resulted
project that runs from South Bend through be 60 minutes from downtown Chicago, in a versatile workforce that serves both the
Northwest Indiana to downtown Chicago. and have a view of Lake Michigan,” he manufacturing and professional sectors,
The double-tracking project is expected to said. “This is a project that will make people Edgar said.
shave significant time off of the commute want to move downtown and help spur more “I believe the future is bright for Michigan
from Michigan City to downtown Chicago, development.” City,” Edgar said. “It has taken a number
a convenience that could potentially draw The South Shore Line project is expected to of solid steps to position itself to retain the
more residents who could work in the third- lure more residents planning to work in the talent they have through the Michigan City
largest city in the United States while returning city and live in the suburbs. Promise Scholarship and attract talent for
home to a beachfront community with a “Double-tracking the South Shore line is the future.”
cozy small-town feel. It can improve quality transformational for Northwest Indiana,” Michigan City is a great location for
of life by giving Michigan City residents a Sweitzer said. “The double tracking will international investment, Sweitzer said.
faster trip to downtown Chicago and its many bring the travel time from Michigan City to “Michigan City is the best of both worlds
attractions like the Art Institute, the Cloud downtown Chicago in just an hour.” with its direct access to Chicago, the nation’s
Gate sculpture, Michelin-starred restaurants, Michigan City is part of the Chicago- third-largest metropolitan by GDP, and
and Broadway in Chicago theaters. Naperville-Elgin metropolitan statistical area of Indiana’s stellar business climate,” she said.
“One of the world’s best cities is just 60 nearly 9.5 million people and part of the Great “The state is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest
miles away,” said Tim Smith, the co-founder Lakes Megaregion that has abundant access and fifth in the U.S. for business, No. 1 for
and CEO of Midwest Public Affairs Group to clean fresh water and lower property taxes infrastructure, and the third most affordable
who lobbied to bring the South Shore Line than Illinois, said Michael Edgar, President state in the nation. In addition to a great
double tracking to town and is developing and Co-founder of SelectChicago. He noted business climate, Michigan City offers a
a mixed-used transit-oriented development the Great Lakes Megalopolis would have a high quality of life with immediate proximity
project downtown that will include luxury $45 trillion GDP if it were its own country, to Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes
apartments and ground-floor retail. “The making it one of the largest economies in National Park.
second track will make it more punctual the world and roughly equivalent to Japan. Momentum has been building in Michigan
and dependable so people can get to work The Hoosier city also prioritizes economic City in recent years as it has blossomed into
in downtown Chicago.” development, trying to get new companies a great place to work and live.
Smith is a partner in a new development that to breaking ground in less than a year. “The community is focused on the revitalization
is building a 200 unit, 11-story apartment Edgar credits city leaders with “developing a of downtown and the Uptown Arts District -
building at 500 Pine Street. It will include 64,000 square foot industrial facility on spec local small businesses and unique restaurants,
a grab-and-go grocery store, a pool, bike to have ready for an expanding company” many with an international focus, now populate
racks, and lakefront views on most floors. The and “working with Marbach America to the area,” Sweitzer said. “Michigan City

44. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL