Monthly Archives: September 2009

Novak Named to RDA

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Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. has named Peter D. Novak, Jr., as the city’s appointee to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA).

Novak replaces Purdue University Calumet Chancellor Howard Cohen, who recently resigned from the board in order to concentrate on university affairs.

Novak joins six other appointees on the RDA board, the establishment of which was approved during the 2005 Indiana General Assembly. Terms of the legislation permit the mayors of Hammond, East Chicago and Gary each to have one appointment on the board. The rest of the Board consists of a representative from Lake County and another from Porter County and two appointments from Governor Mitch Daniels.

Novak is the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors (GNIAR), a regional organization representing the real estate interests in Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton Counties. Prior to his present position, he worked as the Executive Director, Department of Planning and Development and Deputy Chief of Staff for the City of Hammond. He also has past experience in the mortgage industry.

“With his background in economic development, I believe Pete Novak is an excellent choice for this Board”, stated McDermott. “Pete and I have a great working relationship and I am positive he will represent the City of Hammond well on this Board”.

“I am pleased and honored to be appointed by Mayor McDermott to represent the city of Hammond on the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority,” Novak said. “I have been a resident of Northwest Indiana most of my life and believe strongly in the opportunities that exist here. I look forward to working with the other members of the RDA in helping shape the future of Northwest Indiana.”

White Lodging Surpasses 20,000 Managed Guestrooms

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With the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Phoenix/Chandler Arizona, Merrillville-based White Lodging has surpassed the 20,000 managed guestrooms milestone.

Established in 1985, White Lodging has grown from four hotels in Indiana to a current managed portfolio of 144 hotels in eighteen states with over 6,000 employees. These hotels operate under the Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotel Group, and Carlson Hotels Worldwide brands.

White Lodging currently has other properties under construction, including the Westin at the Domain in Austin, Texas scheduled to open March 2010 and the 1005 room JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana scheduled to open in February 2011.

“We are excited about our continued growth. It is a testament to our relationships with our owners and our associates’ ability to drive value for them,” says Dave Sibley, President and CEO of White Lodging’s Hospitality Management Division.

Consistent delivery of industry leading premiums in market share and operating profit margins and a strong focus on guest satisfaction and associate retention, enable White Lodging to remain as one of the top three independently, privately held hotel organizations in the United States, the company says.

Schneider Chosen for Bioethanol Plant

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Powers Energy will locate its new Lake County bioethanol plant in Schneider, the company announced today.

The $295 million facility will distill ethanol from the gas created by heating organic garbage.

Construction of the facility will employ between 300 and 400 workers, according to Powers Energy President Earl Powers. The facility itself will eventually employ 165 to 200 people.

Notes: Bioethanol Plant Coming to Lake County

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Powers Energy has chosen a site in Lake County for a $285 million bioethanol plant. Details are scheduled to be announced this week.

Porter County is exploring reimbursing cities and towns for borrowing expenses related to the county’s struggles to get tax bills out.

NWIBRT’s 2009 Reliability Seminar will be held on October 22.

One worker was injured in a fire at the Lock Joint Tube plant in South Bend.

Notes: NICTD Neutral on Regional Transit Vote

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NICTD is not taking a position on the establishment of a regional transit authority.

Flood damage in Newton County is estimated at $250 million.

St. John eliminated three positions, including the building commissioner.

Ground was broken yesterday on the final phase of the Cady Marsh Ditch Flood Reduction project in Griffith.

The City of South Bend approved a 2010 budget that includes tax hikes last night.

St. Catherine Hospital Chosen as Pilot Location for Alternative Model of Care

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St. Catherine Hospital is today opening the Med-Clinic, a new convenient care clinic made possible by a national grant aimed at lowering health care costs by providing an alternative to Emergency Department visits.

The State of Indiana recognized the need to decrease non-emergency emergency room visits and is piloting the Med-Clinic at St. Catherine Hospital, an alternative site of care for non-emergent illnesses. The clinic will be funded in part with a grant from The State of Indiana, Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning.

The goal of the pilot project is to improve access to primary care and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits. Only two hospitals in Indiana have received monies for this program – St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and Wishard Health Services in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Home Sales Fall in August

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Existing single-family residential home sales were down 14.5 percent statewide (.pdf) in August of this year versus August of 2008, according to the Indiana Association of Realtors. However, the median sales price declined only 4.5 percent.

In northern Indiana, unit sales and media prices declined across the board, but the size of that decline varied widely (data from Starke County was not included in the report):

County Units Sold Median Price
Newton -29.5% -0.2%
Jasper -24.0% -10.8%
Porter -21.4% -1.8%
St. Joseph -21.3% -1.1%
Lake -15.2% -18.9%
LaPorte -8.3% -10.4%
Total Indiana -14.5% -4.5%

Notes: College Football Hall of Fame Leaving South Bend

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The College Football Hall of Fame is leaving South Bend for Atlanta, but the city will still be paying for the building long after the Hall is gone.

Porter-Starke Services is moving forward with a new $1.5 million facility in Portage.

New York Blower in LaPorte has laid off 14 more workers, bringing the total number of people the company has let go since October 2008 to 104.

The Porter County lawsuit over the Regional Development Authority will move to Jasper County.

Indiana is a logistics hotbed.

PUC Honors Three with Outstanding Faculty Awards

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Two Northwest Indiana Purdue University Calumet professors and another from Chicago have received the university’s annual Outstanding Faculty Awards for the 2008-09 academic year.

The award winners are: Professor of Electrical Engineering David Kozel of Crown Point (Outstanding Teacher), Professor of Biological Sciences Charles Tseng of Munster (Outstanding Faculty Scholar) and Professor of Mechanical Engineering Harvey Abramowitz of Chicago (Outstanding Faculty Service).

The honorees received their awards at Purdue Calumet’s recent fall semester-opening Faculty-Staff Convocation.
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Notes: La Porte Woos New Refrigerated Warehouse

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The Greater La Porte Economic Development Corporation will present ”Made in LaPorte County” Friday at Marquette Mall in Michigan City from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The La Porte County Council is backing up the Brinks truck in an effort to secure a new refrigerated warehouse facility.

The Northwest Indiana Times held a symposium to try to correct misperceptions about the Regional Development Authority. In related news, RDA members say they will support the creation of a regional transit authority.

Dr. F. Dennis Riegelnegg was officially installed yesterday as St. Joseph’s College’s 17th President.