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La Porte redevelopment commission approves joint agreement with county for expanded Microsoft site
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Summary
The La Porte Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a joint undertaking agreement with the La Porte County Redevelopment Commission to support a potential annexation and development of about 1,300 acres tied to Microsoft, including a county pledge back equal to 67¢ of the $3.40 tax rate this year.
The La Porte Redevelopment Commission on April 29 unanimously approved a joint undertaking agreement with the La Porte County Redevelopment Commission designed to govern cooperation if Microsoft’s proposed expansion and annexation proceeds.
Bert Cook, executive director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, told the commission the agreement outlines resource- and revenue-sharing tied to an expanded Microsoft property. "It does, outline a new, I think, an innovative partnership on the expanded Microsoft property," Cook said, adding that the county would pledge back its portion of the tax rate — "which, in this year is 67¢ of the $3.40 overall tax rate."
The agreement is framed to apply only if the annexation and development move forward; Cook noted the annexation petition has been before the city council and will be reviewed by the plan commission and returned to the council for action in May. "If that project goes forward and the annexation is completed, this agreement would outline the sharing of resources between you all and the redevelopment commission and the county," he said.
Matt Reardon, identified in the meeting as the county’s economic development director, said the county and city see development projects that would benefit both jurisdictions and emphasized cooperation. "We have a very clear eye on, some development projects that would make a lot of sense," Reardon said, urging orderly growth.
A commission member moved to approve the agreement; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote, 4–0.
Why it matters: the agreement creates a framework for the city and county to share tax-increment and other redevelopment resources if Microsoft’s annexation and development proceed, potentially shaping how future infrastructure and public investments are financed in the area. The plan commission and city council still must complete their respective review and annexation processes.
Next steps: the annexation and related plan commission and city council actions are expected in May; the joint agreement will take effect only if annexation and subsequent approvals proceed.
