Gary is “open for business,” Mayor Eddie Melton said Tuesday night, as he encouraged local business leaders to continue investing in the city.
“I’m not blind that there’s a stigma to Gary,” Melton said. “We have yet to shake that. Even if the numbers reflect progress, the message people speak is still lingering.”
Melton and the Gary Chamber of Commerce hosted a fireside chat at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana Tuesday night. The event featured a networking hour for attendees and a panel discussion with representatives from U.S. Steel, Hard Rock and the Gary/Chicago International Airport.
Representatives included U.S. Steel Gary Works General Manager Daniel Killeen, Hard Rock Vice President Legal and General Counsel Carol Tan-Helton, Hard Rock Vice President of Casino Operations Mike Gaudreau, and Gary/Chicago International Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari.
The mayor used Tuesday to highlight economic success since his administration took over, including a U.S. Steel deal that plans to bring billions of dollars to Gary and winning a bid for the Lake County Convention Center.
“This year alone, we’re going to spend $900 million, investing in the facility here,” Killeen said. “We’re on a path to spend $3.1 billion. … We want to make sure that facility is viable and it’s part of the city here.”
The city’s recent success makes Melton optimistic that more will come, including potentially the new home for the Chicago Bears.
“I’m trying to show you that we’re doing the practical things to make this city grow again, and it’s happening in real time,” Melton said. “I really think we can make this happen.”
On Tuesday, Portage officials proposed a Bears stadium on 300 acres of city-owned land on its north side, according to Post-Tribune archives. Mayor Austin Bonta told the Post-Tribune that the stadium could be financed privately, and the Bears and state of Indiana are aware of the proposal and funding.
In January, Gary announced that the city has three proposed locations for a Bears stadium, near Hard Rock Casino, Buffington Harbor and Miller Beach. Melton said Tuesday night that the location near Hard Rock is his preferred pick.
“I believe Gary is the best location,” Melton said. “If they want to make a very sound business decision, we can help you do that.”
Panelists believe the future looks promising for Gary, and Gaudreau said he’s biased when it comes to the entertainment district’s future. In four years, 10 million people have visited Hard Rock, he said.
“We’ve seen the business grow,” Gaudreau said. “We’ve been competitive with competitors across the border. … We’re the highest grossing casino in the state of Indiana, so obviously, in our eyes, that’s something we want to capitalize on.”
Beyond gaming, Hard Rock also helps drive tourism, small business growth and local spending. About 75,000 people attended concerts at the casino last year, Gaudreau said. The restaurants also made about $1.2 million, he added.
Hard Rock partners with the city’s school corporations, Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University Northwest to help support the community, Tan-Helton said. The casino is also dedicated to supporting the local music industry by having free local entertainment in the casino on Friday and Saturday nights.
Killeen is optimistic about U.S. Steel’s presence in Gary, he said Tuesday night, and he thinks the future of the steel industry looks promising. The company plans to work with local schools to recruit workers, Killeen said, and he hopes that students can see the benefits of working for U.S. Steel once they graduate high school.
“The future and growth looks outstanding,” Killeen said. “As business entities in this community, when we’re expanding, it’s going to help the tax base.”
U.S. Steel has been part of Gary since 1905, Killeen said, and the company hopes that its history with the city will also help keep the workforce going for years to come.
“The best employees we have are here,” he said. “It was either mom worked (at U.S. Steel), or dad worked there. They understand the skills, and they understand what it takes to make steel, and it’s not an easy thing. … The workforce we have here is going to invest in this, and it’s a leapfrog that puts us ahead.”
The Gary airport has been focused on upgrades to its infrastructure, Vicari said, and he doesn’t expect that to stop in the future. As the city gets more logistics sites, such as the FedEx location coming to Buffington Harbor, he thinks the airport can help as well.
The airport can help show the benefits of working in Gary, Vicari added.
“We need to keep telling our story and showing the value of Gary,” Vicari said. “Not just with the airport, but Gary-wide, the value cannot be underestimated.”
