Dozens of representatives from local businesses gathered at the Best Western Plus La Porte Hotel and Convention Center to hear about recent achievements and upcoming plans to improve the city of La Porte.
The event, sponsored by 1st Source Bank, Holladay Properties, Purdue Federal Credit Union, Walsh & Kelly Construction, Harbor Trust and investment Management Company and Surf Air Wireless, featured key speaker Blair Milo, mayor of the city of La Porte.
Jeff Love, Vice President of Business Development for Purdue Federal Credit Union was excited to hear about upcoming plans for the city.
“This is a great market,” said Love. “ The mayor is doing some really great things here in La Porte. Industry is picking up and we couldn’t be more pleased.”
Milo kicked off her address to the crowd with a humorous, entertaining statement reflecting on surprising events over the last year, specifically the Cubs’ World Series Victory, Brexit, and the surprising defeat of Mike Seips in last years’ presidential race.
“Everybody was sure… Mike Seips would make it. I mean...we came down to the wire too. We were sure it’d be Mike Seips all the way…” Milo joked to the crowd before launching into a comprehensive breakdown on the current administration’s vision for growth in La Porte.
“We’ve come a tremendous distance since we started here,” said Milo. “The city was in dire financial straits, which was a big part of what prompted me to get involved.”
Milo credited much of the success and recent progress made in La Porte to the city employees and others who collaborated to make tremendous strides in improving the quality of life in the city.
“There’s a lot of change happening at a rapid pace across the world, and it can feel at times a little overwhelming, but there’s also a lot of excitement too, if we can focus on the positive change that can come from that,” said Milo.
Key speaking points during the presentation highlighted recent advances in local economic development, including such features as the recent Newport Landing project, job growth, and retention. Improvements to local infrastructure, with 28% of the city roads paved since 2015, and another $2.5 million in paving scheduled for the coming year.
Also highlighted was the focus to make La Porte a more efficient, sustainable and ecologically friendly city, through the use of alternative fuel for city vehicles and high-tech advances such as the use of drones and tablets for fire department apparatus, as well as Smart-read meters for utilities, which provide enhanced features and improved service to customers.
Milo stated that the overall focus is “Learn faster, govern smarter.”
“We’re not ignoring our heritage to be able to use these new advancements, we are just finding new ways to provide those services and to harness the opportunities that come from that change,” said Milo.
Milo brought the address to a close with a rap music performance by local ministry The Emerging Sound, joined by the mayor herself, showing off her musical chops with a free-flow rap beat.
Jayne Cooper, Regional Sales Manager with 1st Source Bank was impressed with the mayor’s speech.
“We’ve been in sort of a slump in this area over the last few years, but there have been so many positive things happening here lately. We’re in an upswing, things are getting done, we’re making improvements to infrastructure and it’s exciting. There’s money now to be able to re-invest in improving the city. Newport Landing is an excellent example of that,” said Cooper.
“When people see something, it makes a difference.”
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