Portage Economic Development Corporation celebrates members and their families with evening at the RailCats

On Thursday, July 30, the Portage Economic Development Corporation (Portage EDC)  treated members and their families to an evening at the Gary RailCats Steel Yard, where attendees watched the RailCats face off against the Sioux City Explorers.

The Portage EDC rented out the third base side party deck for its members. Tables and chairs were dotted across the deck, and a buffet table held trays of classic baseball game food, such as hotdogs and hamburgers, for attendees to serve themselves. 

Andy Maletta, the Executive Director of the Portage EDC, considers events like the Evening at the RailCats to be important for thanking members and donors, letting them know that they’re appreciated by the Portage EDC.

“It’s a thank you to folks who work with us on different programs. We have a lot of partners who invest in our company; that’s how we’re funded. A lot of the companies, whether that’s banks, unions, or bigger industries within the Portage area, invest in the EDC to help us do what we do. This is just a way to say thank you to them,” Maletta said.

The Portage EDC is an important part of Portage’s business community. They help smaller businesses get their start, and help bigger businesses expand into the Portage area. A healthy business community is vital for the success of any town or city, and Portage EDC helps keep the embers of success burning.

“We’re here to help businesses come to Portage,” Maletta said, “Whether they need to expand in Portage, if they need help with the workforce, or whatever it might be. We’re a nonprofit that works with the city to help attract businesses and help businesses grow in the city.”

Maletta places heavy importance on Portage’s economic growth, and through his actions as the president of the local school board, he’s even able to get Portage children involved with local businesses at an early age, connecting them to the city through commerce and giving them an up-close look at different careers.

“We do what we call 360 programs, where we help kids find the training that they need, exposing them to a lot of the businesses that are in the Portage and helping them find a path to take after they get out of high school.”

The Evening at the RailCats was an important event for Portage EDC. It brought small business owners throughout Portage together, connecting them with one another over a fantastic baseball game and some tasty ballpark bites. Beyond that, Portage EDC members and their families were shown that the organization greatly values them and their work.

For more information on Portage EDC, visit portagein.org.