Greater La Porte Chamber of Commence Honors Local Businesses with 12th Annual Salute to Business

Greater La Porte Chamber of Commence Honors Local Businesses with 12th Annual Salute to Business

The Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce celebrated local businesses and organizations for their contributions to the La Porte community with their 12th Annual Salute to Business Luncheon, bringing together local businesses who have done their part to bring forth economic success and stability to La Porte.

To see more photos from this event, click here!

"The Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, non-profit business organization," said Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce President Mike Seitz. "We represent over 300 members and approximately 18,000 employees."

The chamber consists of 3 divisions with over 90 volunteers serving on various boards, committees, and task forces. This includes governmental and community affairs, education, and manufacturing.

"The purpose of today's Award Luncheon is to accomplish four objectives of honoring chamber members that have completed the Salute to Business survey, honor a company in our community that has contributed in enhancing our quality of life, project what the economic climate will be in 2016, and provide a great networking opportunity for our members," said Seitz.

There was a total of 19 organizations recognized for their contributions brought to the La Porte Community, winning recognition for capital investment, an increase in employment, or service to La Porte. Each of representatives from each present organization received a plaque recognizing their achievements.

A net total of 53 new employees were added with a total of $3.57 million in capital investments were made between September 2014 and September 2015. This also included a combined total of 912 years of service to the La Porte community with an estimated amount of 93 new jobs and $20.39 million in capital investments being made to businesses in 2016.

Along with the awards, one of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious Corporate Citizen Award, honoring a company that has made significant contributions to the La Porte community. This year's recipient of this 12th annual award went to NIPSCO.

"NIPSCO has gone above and beyond being involved in our community and has shown their support of having great events in La Porte through the sponsorship or Downtown La Porte, Mainstreet Association, and the Maple City Grand Prix," said Seitz.

NIPSCO was also congratulated on their contributions to economic development, the arts, and furthering technical education through their support and contributions to the Lubeznik Center, A.K. Smith Area Career Center, and Community Redevelopment Partnership.

To close out the event, special guest speaker Ben Taylor, Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber's Great Lakes Regional Office, spoke about current political issues involving the US's economic climate and its association to La Porte County and the rest of the world outside the US.

"I learn a lot from your questions and interactions," said Taylor. "It allows me to have a better understanding of issues of importance for this area."

While much of Taylor's speech consisted of nation and international level policies and the steps needed to ensure the US's sustainability in the overseas and local markets, many of his statements held strong relevance to the local La Porte community, with the key takeaway being that beneficial national policy changes and reforms can trickle down and benefit cities such as La Porte and oth

ers in the Northwest Indiana region. "Ninety-five percent of our customers live outside the US," said Taylor. "We either stick our heads in the sand or we join the rest of the world."

A List of 2015's Salute to Business Winners:

B & B Manufacturing- Gold Awards for Capital Investment and Increase in Employment

B&J’s American Cafe- Gold Award for Increase in Employment

Briar Leaf Golf Club - Gold Award for Capital Investment

Etropal Restaurant and Lounge- Gold Award for Capital Investment

Hatfield Pest Control- Gold Award for Increase in Employment

Horizon Bank- Gold Award for Increase in Employment

Jaeger- Unitek Sealing Solutions- Gold Awards for an Capital Investment, Increase in Employment, and 5 Years of Service to La Porte

Kemp’s Office City- Gold Awards for Capital Investment and Increase in Employment

La Porte County Public Library- Gold Awards for Capital Investment and Increase in Employment

La Porte Savings Bank- Gold Awards for Capital Investment and Increase in Employment

Michigan City Ivy Tech Pejic Campus- Gold Award for Capital Investment

Packaging Logic, Inc.- Gold Awards for Capital Investment, Increase in Employment, and 20 Year of Service to La Porte

Pressel Enterpries- Gold Award for Capital Investment

R Squared, LLC- Gold Awards for Increase in Employment

Rieth-Riley Construction Company - Gold Award for Increase in Employment

Rumely Historic Apartments- Gold Award for Capital Investment and Increase in Employment

Settlers Place- Gold Award for Increase in Employment

Unity Founation of La Porte County- Gold Award for Capital Investment

WCOE- 96.7 The Eagle- Gold Award for 50 Years of Service to La Porte