Count way to success
Purdue University Northwest’s Don Babcock argues weak math preparation is closing career doors for students, pointing to the U.S. ranking 34th in math among 78 nations.
April - May 2026
Northwest Indiana Business Magazine April – May 2026 issue
Big on housing
The Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance runs HUD-certified counseling and financial literacy classes across Lake County as foreclosures and evictions rise statewide.
Nozzle worth noting
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing’s glow-in-the-dark firehose nozzle won the 2025 Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest, beating 48 products from 36 communities.
Answering the call
Crown Point’s Great Lakes Communications handles 24/7 calls for businesses, doctors, and crisis hotlines. Co-founders Langdeau and Alvarado launched the service in 2015.
Essential adviser
Blessing Mene, enFocus’s director of entrepreneurship, draws on a career supporting 100-plus startups and $25M raised to coach South Bend-area founders.
Economic power of play
Northwest Indiana’s 114 scheduled youth sports events in 2026 could generate $45M, fueled by facilities like the Hammond Sportsplex and Elkhart aquatics center.
Sustainable prospects
From a food-waste plant in LaPorte County to PFAS detection in South Bend, Northwest Indiana companies are building sustainability into core business operations.
Lots of buyers out there
Indiana’s office of entrepreneurship and innovation is partnering with regional groups to help small business owners plan exits as baby boomer retirements accelerate ownership turnover.