The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) announced the City of Michigan City has been named a 2015 IACT Community Achievement Award winner for its Lake Michigan Gateway Implementation Strategy in the 30,001 – 100,000 population category. The City will receive its award during the IACT Annual Awards Luncheon presented by Umbaugh, Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the 2015 IACT Annual Conference & Exhibition in French Lick.
Michigan City is capitalizing on the potential of the community’s assets to transform into a memorable and economically vibrant destination. The Lake Michigan Gateway Implementation Strategy is a market supported vision, flexible development framework, and series of incremental actions and investments that will be initiated by both public and private sector leaders to reach the community’s common goal of repositioning Michigan City as Indiana’s Great Lakefront Destination Community. The Strategy was unanimously adopted by the City Council in the fall of 2014 and calls for a public investment of approximately $22 million over the next five years. When the Strategy is fully realized, Michigan City will be a regional visitor destination that boasts a package of year-round attractions in a well-connect, environmentally sensitive, resort-like setting, which will yield $15 million in new property tax revenue and support nearly 3,500 jobs.
“Community planning has never been more important for Indiana cities and towns. Creating quality places where people want to live and businesses want to grow just won’t happen without diligent efforts to plan effectively,” said IACT Executive Director and CEO Matt Greller. “Michigan City certainly understands the role placemaking and planning have in today’s economic development success stories.”
In its 39th year, the IACT Annual Awards program, presented by Umbaugh, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A nine-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) is a coalition of municipal officials who seek to improve the quality of life in Indiana through effective government, and is a member of the National League of Cities. Founded in 1891, IACT is one of the oldest state municipal organizations in the country, with 470 cities and towns as members. IACT advocates for municipalities as the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, and promotes good government through education, training and leadership.