The Lake County Economic Alliance (LCEA) is now housed in the offices of the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce in Merrillville.
Karen Lauerman and Don Koliboski both previously worked with the Northwest Indiana Forum and are now with the LCEA and have embraced the continued partnership with the Crossroads Chamber and the Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
“This is a good regional location for us to collaborate and be able to serve all of Lake County,” said Lauerman, now president and CEO of the LCEA.
Koliboski, now vice president of economic development for the LCEA,i is excited about both his move from the Forum to the LCEA and the LCEA’s move in to the Crossroads’ chamber office.
“We are excited for this opportunity to share talents on the economic development marketing process,” he said. “We are excited to do this because what’s good for Lake County is good for Northwest Indiana.”
Lauerman and Koliboski, who worked together at the Northwest Indiana Forum for eight years, now have an increased partnership with the Forum, which covers a larger geographical area than the LCEA.
Lauerman said it’s nice to be able to focus more on Lake County rather than having to juggle interests in the seven-county area the Forum serves.
“We are looking forward to working with elected officials to coordinate an approach to economic development in Lake County,” she said.
One of Lauerman and Koliboski’s goals is to “bring on an executive team” to help operate the economic development group and focus on more business retention and expansion efforts.