GARY – Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie, IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe, and colleagues got an up-close look at some of Northwest Indiana’s most powerful economic engines as the IU President tours Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor.
The tour was part of McRobbie’s visit to IU Northwest, one of seven IU campuses that he is visiting throughout the 2016-17 academic year to emphasize IU's commitment to all regions of the state as well as strengthen campus connections with community and state leaders. Learning more about Northwest Indiana’s advantageous position as a maritime hub, as well as a look into the region’s primary product, seemed an obvious fit for McRobbie’s visit.
Port Director Rick Heimann led a tour of the operation, one of a three-port system in Indiana which moves about 70 million tons of cargo — to the tune of about $1.89 billion — annually. The port’s location on Lake Michigan, combined with coordinated efforts with its sister ports in Mount Vernon, Ind., and Jeffersonville, Ind., both located on the Ohio River, provides a unique ability to connect Indiana to virtually all the ports in the world.
“We are approaching pricing levels that are similar to the 2009 period of time,” Kincaid said. “All of us can recall what happened in late 2008, 2009 as far as the economy in the U.S.”
McRobbie asked Heimann about the port’s capacity for foreign trade and whether the port could increase its capacity. Heimann acknowledged that this is a primary objective of the port.
“One of our most pressing issues, or goals, is more global traffic,” Heimann said. “I need more companies in Indiana who source or know how to source in foreign markets and know how to sell or at least identify how to sell in those foreign markets.”
Heimann imagined that, perhaps, Indiana University experts would undertake research that will lead to developing such opportunities.
“We are always in need of support for multi-modal freight transportation research projects, especially on a global level,” Heimann said. “We would love to hear from the University about how we might be able to utilize the ports either in the sourcing of the raw materials or in the delivery of the finished good to a customer. That is bringing business, jobs, economic impact to the state.”
Chancellor Lowe said he is excited about the potential resources that a heightened awareness of our region’s economic strengths and opportunities could bring with the support of Indiana University.
“President McRobbie requested this tour to better understand the economic drivers of our region, so that IU can best focus its resources on enhancing opportunities for growth in Northwest Indiana and the entire state,” Lowe said. “A greater awareness of the region’s unique advantages, needs and opportunities, such as the personal tour we received today, can only lead to more focused efforts to further develop our assets. I look forward to the partnerships that IU and IU Northwest can facilitate in cooperation with the Ports.
McRobbie’s full visit to IU Northwest included a meeting with Valparaiso Mayor John Castas and Regional Development Association Director Bill Hanna; a roundtable discussion with local reporters, and a call-in moderated discussion with representatives of local Chambers of Commerce.
McRobbie enjoyed a lunchtime chat with IU Northwest students who summarized their recent efforts to raise awareness of philanthropy on campus and raise money toward scholarships.
The day’s events concluded with the Chancellor’s Medallion Celebration and Bicentennial Campaign Launch, the campus’s annual event recognizing those who support student scholarships.
