Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation highlights 2025 projects and previews five-year initiative update

The Valparaiso Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) invited its members, community investors, and leaders in Northwest Indiana to a breakfast gathering at Avalon Manor to discuss recent and upcoming projects.

Dale Clapp, Chairman of the VEDC, recognizes the event is crucial to keep investors in the community up-to-date on the past year and what’s to come.

“This is an opportunity for current and potential investors of the VEDC to see what’s been going on over the last year,” Clapp said. “We get a chance to look at projects that are in place and projects that are coming in the future to allow everyone to see the type of investments that are being made in Valparaiso.”

The mission of the VEDC is to encourage economic growth in the Greater Valparaiso area. This includes promoting business opportunities and advantages that Valparaiso offers, identifying the needs of the business community, facilitating strategic partnerships to meet the needs of the community, and encouraging investments that create jobs. This matches the VEDC’s vision to attract motivated and talented businesses and entrepreneurs, offering lifelong learning, creating a pro-business culture, cutting edge technology, building a collaborative spirit, social harmony, and a distinctive physical design.

Clapp highlighted some projects and initiatives that the VEDC has been intimately engaged and involved with.

“One of our most recent successes has been the ChicaGo DASH buses,” Clapp said. “We have three wrapped buses, aligned with our ‘Perfect Place’ logo and design to highlight and create interest and intrigue into our City. These buses travel multiple times a day from Valparaiso to Chicago and create thousands of impressions, focusing on Valparaiso as the perfect place to work, live and play. This project was a multi-year commitment made possible by the vision of our investors. With this particular project, Journeyman Distillery partnered with us on this project, and they are displayed prominently on the back of each bus. Our investors were pivotal with this project and we couldn’t be more excited about the attention these bring to our city each and every day.”

Paradise Community Homes has been a developmental project to provide more affordable housing in Valparaiso. It compliments many other housing projects that represent multiple entry and price points in the community. ValPlayso PicklePlex has a $10 million replay grant process that is moving forward to offer six pickleball courts at ValPlayso Park.

George Douglas, director of development for the City of Valparaiso, understands the value of incorporating the plans for these projects with partners of the VEDC.

“In order to have great projects, you have to bring the community on board,” Douglas said. “You have to make sure that is the case to those who are in positions to approve a project, and that process includes all of our partners, including our elected officials.”

As the VEDC works with local organizations such as the City of Valparaiso and the Valpo Chamber, their collaboration extends beyond the city. More than 35 companies, VEDC supporters, and presenting sponsor Comcast Business came to this annual breakfast event. This gathering serves as one of the best ways for investors in the community to stay informed about the city. It also highlighted the five-year initiative update that is planned for the future of Valparaiso.

One of the biggest priorities in this community has been the Route 30 Plan. A study on infrastructure improvements will be conducted to get development ready in a location near Montdale Industrial Park and Highway 30. 

Valpo REC is a project that is expected to come together within the next year, bringing a 230,000 square foot sports recreation campus to the city.

An Eastside Master Plan 2.0 development project will be near the Powers Health St. Mary Medical Center campus. Opportunities such as the NWI Forum FAM Tour, Innovate Indiana Series, and a project by SENSIT Technologies and the Peuquet Family will help the community in areas of workforce development, business retention, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Developments such as The Linc apartment complex and the Grand Gardner Hotel will make a transformative impact on the downtown area. The Avgo Breakfast & Lunch project will come to the south side of the square, being rebuilt with structural steel.

With every new project, there are always hurdles to climb. Development of a TRU Hotel is expected to fully come together after solving wastewater challenges and beautifying the area with pathways and sidewalks. Along with the help of the Redevelopment Commission, the 300 Lincolnway project will start getting more attention following the completion of the downtown garage.

Other projects discussed during the presentation included Lake Cable continuing its expansion, Indiana Beverage’s new Blue Jay II commercial space, InTouch Pharmaceuticals’ delivery process, and the completion of the Viking Medical Center. Bill Hasse, chief operating officer of Hasse Construction, helped to bring this Viking Medical Center into fruition.

“The building started about seven years ago,” Hasse said. “It had no windows, it had a roof, but there were also roof rails that leaked into the building. Now, the building is complete and ready for occupancy, but there’s still a little work to do with the interior.”

Leaders of the Valparaiso community hope that this initiative will continue to create a positive impact for its residents for many years to come.

“The whole idea is to increase total investments and raise the assessments in Valparaiso,” Clapp said. “When a company relocates to the community, it adds a great deal of tax benefit to the community. With what Senate Bill 1 has done, a lot of the municipalities in Indiana have had difficulty raising money. Getting an investment to come into the area is a great way to solve the problem. More importantly, it helps create jobs.”

The VEDC is grateful to have an ensemble of investors who want the best for the Valparaiso community. 

“We’re excited about a lot of the things that have happened and are going to happen,” Clapp said. “Our investors have recognized the value that the VEDC adds to the city. It’s not just about attracting what’s new, but it’s about retaining what we have. It takes vision, collaboration, and investment. We are proud to be an independent 501(3)(c) non for profit that is fully self-funded. We’re focused on investment, retention and education of quality projects and expansion that allow us to grow in the most appropriate ways.”

For more information on the VEDC, you can visit valpoedc.com.