Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 434 on May 4. The bill allows for a Lake County convention center and a metro center station fund in Gary.

The bill was signed by Senate President Suzanne Crouch on April 28 and passed by the Indiana House of Representatives on April 27 by 87 to 8.

“Senate Bill 434 will have a transformative impact on economic development in Gary, Lake County and the State of Indiana, and I’m excited to see it continue to garner support,” said State Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Gary) in a press release. “As it stands, this bill will address the elimination of community blight, support the renovation of our downtown metro station and generate an overall economic boom by permitting the creation of a convention center.”

The bill also calls for an increase in the innkeepers' tax.

Proposals for the construction and operation of a Lake County convention and event center can be submitted beginning July 1.

A Lake County convention center authority will be established once a proposal is approved to provide oversight of the project.