Economic development director highlights $113M in 2024 investment, housing pipeline of 2,000 units

Clarence Hulse, director of economic development (EDCMC), presented the EDCMC’s 2024 annual report to the Michigan City Common Council on April 15, describing a year of major project activity, workforce initiatives and an expanding housing pipeline.

Hulse said projects reported to his office totaled about $113 million in capital investment in 2024 and that the city has now recorded three consecutive years above $100 million. He singled out downtown investment and small-business facade projects, and he identified several large projects in active construction, including a DME expansion that Hulse described as a roughly $20 million investment to build 100,000 square feet in a business park. He also described ongoing work on the Eleventh Street Station Block project and multiple downtown restoration and housing efforts.

Why it matters: Hulse framed the investments as part of a multi-year redevelopment trend that will affect jobs, housing and city infrastructure. Council members asked for detail on workforce development and specialized trades; Hulse noted programs that send high-school students to manufacturing trade shows and that support apprenticeships in healthcare and construction.

Hulse said the city has over 2,000 housing units in the pipeline (both under construction and in permitting) and identified Woodland Ridge as a project expecting to complete initial units this year. He also summarized a state-funded study of the closed prison site and described visits to other communities that repurposed closed correctional campuses. Hulse urged community participation in neighborhood-focused programs the EDCMC supports, including a neighborhood academy that graduated residents from multiple wards and initiatives funded through grants and partnerships with Notre Dame and others.

Council feedback was broadly positive. Councilman Beatrice (Beartree) praised the focus on workforce development and suggested Michigan City could expand marine-mechanics training given local maritime assets. Doctor Cora and others thanked Hulse and his staff for their work and noted the city’s relative affordability as a draw for new residents.

Hulse closed by saying the commission is working on long-range infrastructure to support industrial development on Highway 20 East, market-area redevelopment options for the Market Mall site, and continued efforts on solar, transit-oriented projects and small-business support. The council received the report; no formal vote was required.