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La Porte Urban Enterprise Association outlines $9.7 million reinvested, pledges $1 million for housing
Summary
Mike Riley presented the La Porte Urban Enterprise Association's 10-year accomplishments to the Common Council, citing $9.7 million returned to the enterprise zone in grants and incentives and a board commitment of $1 million over five years for housing and upper-story redevelopment.
Mike Riley, president of business services for the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership and president of the La Porte Urban Enterprise Association, briefed the La Porte Common Council on June 2 about the enterprise zone’s programs and a decade of local investments.
Riley said the enterprise zone has returned roughly $9.7 million to the zone over time and supports at least 450 businesses and about 6,200 residents. The board described four main funding categories: business grants, special grants, residential grants and community enhancement grants.
Why it matters: the enterprise zone’s incentives and grant programs have funded façade improvements, building renovations, parks, events and other capital projects that local officials say have helped downtown revitalization and business recruitment.
Major details from the presentation: traditional business or residential grants typically reimburse 50% of project costs up to $10,000; the UEA has funded downtown facade and awning programs, supported projects such as Boiler Holdings and Barr Holdings renovations, and used special grants to support large projects including site work for plaza anchors. Riley said the board committed $1 million over the next five years for housing and upper-story redevelopment in downtown buildings and has provided more than $400,000 for parks improvements within the zone.
Riley credited coordination with city economic development staff and noted that administrative responsibility for the zone shifted from the Indiana Economic Development Office to the local municipality in 2018. He listed the UEA board and nonvoting members, including state representative Jim Pressler and Mayor Tom Dermody, and encouraged residents to apply for community enhancement grants (maximum $500) and other programs via laportepartnership.com or the City of La Porte website.
Discussion versus decision: the presentation was informational; council members thanked Riley and no formal council action was recorded at the meeting. The UEA board’s internal commitments (for example, the $1 million housing pledge) were described as board decisions made by the UEA, not council resolutions.
What’s next: the UEA continues to meet publicly at 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month; residents and businesses are encouraged to apply for grants through the listed websites.
