NWI Forum Expands Economic Development Service Territory

In an effort to further business recruitment efforts and opportunities for capital investment in Northwest Indiana, the Northwest Indiana Forum Board of Directors voted to explicitly acknowledge that the organization’s service territory extends beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.

This change allows the Forum to represent Northwest Indiana in its entirety, matching the service areas of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Northwest Indiana Forum, Inc.

Northwest Region, the Center of Workforce Innovation Region 1 and other partner organizations. The inclusion of the additional counties will enhance and facilitate marketing the region as the Forum and the State will be speaking of similar areas when promoting and discussing Northwest Indiana.

“We are extremely pleased to now expressly represent the whole of Northwest Indiana. Doing so affords us larger offerings and a wider variety of sites, buildings and business/industrial parks for companies looking to establish, relocate or consolidate operations in the region,” said Mark Maassel, President and CEO of the Forum. “Speaking collectively as a region, our voice becomes stronger and our actions more effective; be they in economic development, environmental affairs or public policy issues.”

Jasper and Newton Counties are currently engaged in the activities of the Forum after joining the organization in November. The Forum Board vote solidified the territory and working relationship within the operating organizational By-Laws.

Jasper, Newton and Pulaski join Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and Starke Counties as part of the regional voice for the business community and a significant catalyst for initiatives that promote economic development and create and retain quality jobs and investment while protecting the environment in Northwest Indiana.

Funded by membership contributions and grants, Forum membership translates into a direct investment in the region. Its corporate members represent more than $40 Billion in commerce in Northwest Indiana.