Finally, the rest of the country is discovering what we’ve known for years: Business leaders can bet on Northwest Indiana to grow and thrive!
While the Bears are still considering their stadium options, other major organizations are building digital infrastructure and expanding operations here.
Our story about information technology focuses on why Northwest and North Central Indiana are attracting so many data centers, how communities are negotiating terms and what resources they will need. Community leaders are carefully considering the pros and cons of bringing these large installations here.
Companies also find that the Region offers the infrastructure they need, the workforce they are looking for and the quality of place their workers ask for. JNE Group moved a team of engineers to Merrillville. And Paradigm Health is expanding with a hospice and palliative care office in Valparaiso. More companies are on the way too.
The Region also has educational opportunities that help employees train for higher-paying jobs or a promotion. Some mid-career learners are changing occupations to take advantage of in-demand jobs like teaching. Holy Cross College’s Transition to Teaching program offers professionals a doorway to sharing what they’ve learned and fulfilling a need in their communities. NWI Works is creating opportunity hubs designed to upskill workers and meet this growing employer demand.
This workforce also wants something in return. Workers are looking for compensation that goes beyond traditional packages and supports “overall financial well-being,” said Jackie Hofman, chief administrative officer at Purdue Federal Credit Union. Helping employees build wealth with the help of financial advisers and programs makes them stay and be more productive.
Every issue, I am usually surprised by a company’s growth. In this issue, I learned about two: Trinity Displays in Portage and Janus Motorcycles in Goshen.
We feature Trinity Displays in a story about the resurgence of trade shows. People are embracing in-person interaction and interesting booths. Trinity is one company in the Region making a national difference, similar to Janus Motorcycles, who has some very loyal fans. Bike owners invested in the company’s future via Wefunder, and share their talents as employees.
Business owners also need a clear path to succession planning. Brian Schutt, the first director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the State of Indiana, shares his plans for transferring ownership to the next generation. He chose Northwest Indiana to pilot a new program to help make that happen. Now that’s confidence we can all share!
Enjoy this issue!
— Heather Pfundstein, publisher/editor
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
Common sense beats process
Great ownership transfer
Bridge for skills gap
Passion project
Curiosity at heart
Quality trade show strategy
Employee wealth plans
Inside mid-career learning
Betting on Northwest Indiana
Digital infrastructure
