City of La Porte awarded 2026 Yamaha Community of the Year

On Thursday, October 1, exciting news was announced at La Porte City Hall that La Porte has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Yamaha Community of the Year Award.

After a thorough review of all locations across Indiana, the Indiana Chamber panel selected La Porte due to its community’s ongoing efforts to turn strong visions into visible progress. La Porte continues to create a city where people want to live, work, and visit, and where employers want to invest and grow.

“Major projects, such as the Microsoft Data Center campus, new residential development, and ongoing downtown reinvestment, are positioning the City of La Porte as one of Northwest Indiana’s most compelling examples of strategic people-focused, sustainable growth,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber President and CEO.

La Porte operates on three goals: set high expectations, compete with the best, and expect to win. This mindset pushes La Porte to think bigger, work harder, and search for opportunities to move the city forward. When departments are working together and believing in the same goal, nothing can stop them from providing the best services they can. City leaders, economic development partners, businesses, and residents are collaborating on those shared beliefs and believing in what La Porte can become.

This accomplishment is especially significant for Mayor Tom Dermody, as La Porte is his hometown, and he is thrilled about this recognition. Being recognized as the Yamaha Community of the Year is a tremendous point of pride for La Porte.

“This is something we expected in 2020. We have those high expectations, and we expect to win. This is just an example of what comes with it,” said Dermody. “We can’t get comfortable; we have to continue to get better. There are things that I have to do better; we all have to, but today is a special day for our entire community.”

Bert Cook, La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership executive director, was also acknowledged for his part in helping La Porte advance and thrive, and spoke at the panel. Cook is excited about the title, but even more grateful that the hard work the city has been doing is being highlighted. La Porte is on the rise because they have people who are willing to work together toward a common goal, despite challenges.

“The acknowledgement is great, but it’s part of the work that goes on long into the future. As long as we remain committed toward progress and moving the community forward, we will be able to stay on track,” said Cook. “The good elected people in the city, it starts with that. Those people are all focused on what they can do to be part of making La Porte a better place tomorrow than it is today.”

For moving forward, more opportunities and resources are being built in La Porte. Cook explained that the Microsoft Data Center has begun construction, and with this comes a wealth of opportunities for the city and the school corporation.

“Now we just have to continue to stay on plan, continue to grow, and make sure that our focus is on improving the lives of residents,” said Dermody. “If we do that, I think people will be excited.”

La Porte has a plan for growth for the future, and that starts with drawing more people in.

To learn more about the city of La Porte, visit cityoflaporte.com

To learn more about La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP), visit laportepartnership.com.