Opinion

Thinking Differently

Innovation isn’t just an “out of the box” mindset. Thinking Differently! If you think differently, you will act differently. You will innovate. Leaders like George Douglas, Indiana Beverage, and Cindy Hedge, Center of Creative Solutions, are among those who embrace this Applesque concept when approaching challenges to the marketplace. Indeed, they helped shape it. This […]

Thinking Differently Read More »

Publisher’s Note – Spring 2016

Excellence and Milestones On our 25th anniversary, we spotlight the best and welcome new leadership. Welcome to our spring issue! In this issue we recognize the Best of Northwest Indiana and Greater South Bend/Michiana Business, as voted by our readers across the region. Thank you for taking the time to vote, and we applaud this

Publisher’s Note – Spring 2016 Read More »

Selling to the Government

State program helps companies compete when selling to the government. In 2013, to further support Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE) was elevated to an independent agency under the direction of the lieutenant governor’s office. OSBE was charged with growing the state’s economy by assisting small businesses in

Selling to the Government Read More »

Cooperation Not Competition

Alliance brings together Chicago region. The relationship between Northwest Indiana and the Greater Chicago area has often been described as a love-hate relationship. We love the proximity and the jobs provided for Hoosiers, but the state line has often seemed to be a barrier to collaboration. A landmark study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation

Cooperation Not Competition Read More »

Supporting Indiana Businesses

The state’s efforts to create a lot more “Companies to Watch.” On August 27, a large audience of Hoosiers gathered in Indianapolis to honor the 2015 class of “Companies to Watch.” Presented by the State of Indiana and Indiana Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and endorsed by the Edward Lowe Foundation, this designation recognizes

Supporting Indiana Businesses Read More »

Public Schools Are Performing

We must stop diverting precious public funds to charters and vouchers. While public education has been the cornerstone of our democracy, the state of Indiana has been increasing the funding for the privatization of education. Charter schools and vouchers are being given taxpayer dollars at the expense of public schools. Indiana now has a three-tiered

Public Schools Are Performing Read More »

Time to Support Public Schools

It’s not good business to cause financial hardship for schools. If economic development is in any way related to the quality of public education, then business leaders must demand a shift in public education policy that places public schools as the top priority. The ability of any community to attract new economic development is dependent

Time to Support Public Schools Read More »

Extend the South Shore Line

Thousands of jobs and new prosperity will ride into the region. by Bill Hanna Expanding the South Shore Line will give us the opportunity to increase connectivity to Chicago, one of the world’s largest economies. Since 1970, Lake County has experienced a decline in population and median income. In order to reverse these trends we

Extend the South Shore Line Read More »

The Region’s Priorities

Summit brings leaders together to reach public-policy consensus. On October 3, the One Region organization sponsored a session attended by 70 leaders from throughout the region. The event was designed to tap the wisdom of the participants concerning the public-policy choices we face as an extended community. The assembly included representatives from the business community,

The Region’s Priorities Read More »