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Mayor Eddie Milton announces $1.4 million Gary Animal Care facility, Hard Rock pledges $500,000
Summary
City of Gary leaders announced a new $1.4 million Gary Animal Care facility at 950 Jefferson Street, backed by a $500,000 donation from Hard Rock Casino, a $500,000 ARPA match and $400,000 in existing city funds; bidding is expected in about two months and construction this summer.
Mayor Eddie Milton announced a planned Gary Animal Care facility and said it will be located at 950 Jefferson Street and cost about $1.4 million. “I am thrilled to officially announce ... the development of a new Gary Animal Care facility which will be located at 950 Jefferson Street,” Milton said, adding the structure will include indoor and outdoor kennels, quarantine space and administrative offices.
Milton said the project will be funded in part by a $500,000 donation from Hard Rock Casino and a $500,000 match from the city’s previously allocated American Rescue Plan Act funds. “That contribution will support the design and construction of this new facility,” the mayor said, and he thanked the Gary Common Council for approving the appropriation. The mayor also said roughly $400,000 will come from existing community development and animal shelter allocations to complete the funding package.
Matt Schuefer, president and CEO of Hard Rock Casino, confirmed the company’s pledge. “We’re very proud to announce our $500,000 donation to support the design and the construction of the much needed Gary Animal Care facility,” Schuefer said, calling the gift part of Hard Rock’s local investment since opening.
Chief Derek Cannon framed the new shelter as a public-safety and humane-care investment. Cannon, who said he began his public-safety career 27 years ago as an animal control officer, said the new building “will be almost double in square footage compared to the facility that we have now,” and that it will give officers more resources to care for animals and the community.
Marzella Randolph, supervisor of Animal Control for the City of Gary, described the project as expanding the city’s capacity for reunions, adoptions and medical care for animals. “Our vision is a Gary where every animal is treated with dignity,” Randolph said, and she urged continued volunteer and rescue-group partnerships.
City staff said the project team partnered with WDI Architecture to finalize designs and expects to open the bidding process within about two months, with construction planned this summer. Organizers closed the announcement with a partner photo and directed additional media inquiries to Steve Segura, identified in the event as the city’s director of communications.
No formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the event; officials described approvals already granted for the ARPA appropriation by the Gary Common Council and said the next procedural steps are procurement and construction scheduling.
