On Oct. 6, 2025 the City of La Porte Common Council conducted the first reading of an ordinance to establish a Department of Economic Development and to allow the city to use economic development financing tools governed by state law.

The draft ordinance cites Indiana Code sections 36‑7‑11.9 and 36‑7‑12 as the legal basis for financing economic development or pollution control facilities and authorizes creation of a La Porte Economic Development Commission to oversee that work. The version introduced on first reading would reduce the commission's membership from five to three and authorizes city officers to execute instruments necessary to carry out the ordinance's purposes. Councilmembers said appointments are expected to include a mayoral appointment, a council appointment and a county council appointment.

Bert Cook, executive director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, told the council the text updates a prior ordinance and that the primary practical change is reducing the commission from five to three members. "The only significant change here is we're going from 5 to 3 members," Cook said. The ordinance was introduced on first reading and is scheduled to return to council on Oct. 20 for further consideration.

The ordinance is written to support the city's use of revenue bonds and other financing mechanisms authorized under the cited Indiana Code sections. Councilmembers and staff said the measure is an update to prior enabling ordinances the city has used for redevelopment and economic‑development projects.