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http://donnelly.house.gov/2011/09/donnelly...te-county.shtml

Donnelly Announces Grant for Development of the I-94/U.S. 421 Interchange in La Porte County
September 19, 2011 12:25 PM

Michigan City, Ind. – Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly announced that the La Porte County Economic Development Corporation received a $1,304,400 grant toward an infrastructure project at the I-94 and U.S. 421 interchange. The grant was awarded through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHA) Transportation, Community, and System Preservation (TCSP) Program. The grant will supplement the private and local funds already going toward this project.

“I’m pleased to announce this grant to develop the I-94/U.S. 421 interchange in La Porte County because infrastructure projects like this help create an environment for future economic development and business growth,” said Donnelly. “This kind of construction project can spur job growth in our community at a time when it is most needed; and the future development of this interchange will facilitate access to jobs, services, and centers of trade for both the county and the region. I commend the public and private sector leaders in La Porte County for their hard work on this project.”

Matt Reardon, La Porte County Economic Development Consultant, said, “The economic development associated with the I-94/U.S. 421 interchange is very important to our region. We are grateful for Congressman Donnelly’s help in this effort. The county has been working on this interchange for some time, and this federal funding will help us reach our long-term goal of encouraging private businesses to develop and bring jobs to our area.”

The TCSP Program is an initiative of research and grants to investigate the relationship between transportation, community, and system preservation plans and practices. The program identifies and supports private sector-based projects to improve such relationships.

In May 2011, Donnelly wrote a letter of support for this project to the FHA. To read his letter of support, click here.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/0...12238252169.txt

Grant awarded for infrastructure at I-94 and U.S. 421 interchange

By Tim Moran
Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5:07 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — A $1 million plus grant to develop infrastructure for a multi-business park near the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. 421 was awarded to the La Porte County Economic Development Corp., Congressman Joe Donnelly said in a press release Monday.

Donnelly said he was "pleased" to announce the grant for $1,304,4000 was secured through the Federal Highway Administration's (FHA) Transportation, Community and System Preservation (TCSP) Program.

The funding will help cover the infrastructure costs of the project, including the roads, sewer and water.

"Infrastructure projects like this help create an environment for future economic development and business growth," Donnelly said.

Click here to find out more!
Donnelly was referring to LifeWorks Business Park, a 12-building business corridor currently in the approval stage of a plan developed by Holladay Properties Construction Group.

The group's plan is to develop a number of medical offices, as well as a restaurant and possibly retail shops on the east side of U.S. 421 between Interstate 94 and 400 North on the south side of Michigan City.

Elizabeth Shappell, spokeswoman for Donnelly, said the grant was requested through the La Porte County Economic Development Corporation, as well as La Porte County Commissioners Ken Layton and Rich Mrozinski.

"The county has been working on this interchange for some time, and this federal funding will help us reach our long-term goal of encouraging private businesses to develop and bring jobs to our area," said Matt Reardon, consultant for the La Porte County Economic Development Corporation.

During a Monday afternoon telephone conversation, Layton called the grant "wonderful news."

"A lot of the plans that had been put on the back burner can now be brought to fruition," he said. "This will be great for the infrastructure in our area."

Holladay Properties still needs final approval from the La Porte County Council to proceed with the project, although they have already developed one of the buildings in the complex, an IU Health La Porte Hospital medical office already in use.

Layton said the final "roadblock" in the approval process will be the traffic issues that could occur should the complex be built with Frontage Road as the lone access point.

He said the company is "looking at possible options," including the possibility of creating "a horseshoe (traffic) effect," in which a new road would be built to run east-west and "hook up with 950."

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http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...21f0f82613.html

MICHIGAN CITY | A $1.3 million federal grant will advance ongoing development in the area of Interstate 94 and U.S. 421.

The money will make it possible for water and sewer lines to be extended to another 120 acres of the proposed 600-acre development.

"It's an opportunity to leverage more private investment. We open up more land for development," said Matt Reardon, economic development coordinator for LaPorte County.

Holladay Properties, which was involved in the construction of Ameriplex at the Port in Portage and other sites in Merrillville and South Bend, is behind the $30 million investment planned at the Michigan City interchange.

Water and sewer lines installed within the past year along LaPorte County Road 400 North have already paved the way for the recent completion of a medical office to be operated by Indiana University Health LaPorte Hospital.

Envisioned for the entire site are additional medical offices along with hotels, restaurants and a field house to host sporting events.

Initially, Reardon said the county issued $2 million in bonds to finance construction of the first water, sewer and road extensions to the parcel.

The county also provided more than $4 million of its share of federal stimulus money to help pay for building construction.

The site was placed in a tax increment financing district, allowing the county to capture tax money generated by future development to recover its investment, Reardon said.

Another $800,000 to $1 million in grants is being sought to get more of the ground ready for development.

Reardon could not predict how long it will take for buildings to occupy the site.

Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte...l#ixzz1bEn8ouwL