On Thursday, the Lake County Economic Alliance (LCEA) hosted their annual 2017 Investor Meeting, Economic Update & Reception at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond. The event brought together LCEA investors, as well as business and civic leaders from across Lake County and the region for a chance to network and find out about the organization's successes and potential, for future investment in the area.
“Great investors, board members, and sponsors - we couldn’t do it without them,” said Karen Lauerman, LCEA President and CEO. “I wake up every day looking forward to our next project and our next opportunity.”
“Don (Koliboski) and I have a passion for Lake County and 2016 was a very productive year for us,” Lauerman said of her and, LCEA Vice President, Don Koliboski’s work to bring economic development to Lake County.
The LCEA answered 245 leads in 2016 which ultimately equates to a tremendous amount of development opportunities across Lake County in the future. A portion of those leads came from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, with whom the LCEA works closely to bring jobs and investment to our northwest corner of the state.
This year’s investor meeting featured special guest Elaine Bedel, President of the IEDC, who spoke about the value of working with Lauerman, the LCEA and all of the investors and stakeholders who work so hard to grow the Region.
“We serve the whole State of Indiana and our whole function is to bring more jobs for Hoosiers either by expanding companies within Indiana or bringing companies for other states, or internationally, to locate here,” said Bedel. “Working with the local economic development group makes it all work better.”
“They (LCEA) have a great board,” Bedel continued. “Their board is diverse. It’s got representatives from every part of the community that needs to be a part of this to really help bring business here or to help businesses expand. We know that when we’ve got local partners that are strong, interested and active we can be even more helpful. Together we can be more successful.”
For the LCEA, working across the many municipalities in Lake County can be a challenge and an opportunity. What connects everyone is the common values and objectives that each community has, and to have economic development professionals on the state level can be a difference maker.
“IEDC is really kind of like having that big brother that you can get to when you need help,” said LCEA Board Chairman, Daryl Pomranke. “Where do you go? A trusted advisor, a trusted person and that’s with IEDC has done for us. They’ll help us find ways to get things done, give us guidance on what we should do and how we might look at things differently, and it’s just an outstanding partnership that we’re very blessed to have.”
The Lake County Economic Alliance is only two years old and, for Pomranke, having the IEDC to partner with has been a tremendous asset.
“We’re still learning so we look heavily to organizations like this to supply us with guidance as we grow,” Pomranke added.
Attending the LCEA’s Annual Investor Meeting and representing the IEDC as Director of the Northwest Region was Matt Saltanovitz, who serves as the connection between local and state economic development interests.
“It’s essential, these partnerships,” Saltanovitz said. “The LCEA is, sort of, the boots on the ground for Lake County. I’m coming in from the state level and they’re looking with a square focus on Lake County. That partnership is just so essential for everyone pulling in the same direction. As we get prospects, it’s good for them to see we’re all on the same team and we’re all here to help them from either the local angle or the state angle.”
To find out more about how the LCEA works to bring prosperity to Lake County, visit their website here!
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