LaPorte County's economic leaders launch Web site about intermodal facility

Times of Northwest Indiana Staff Report

LaPorte County economic development leaders on Monday launched an educational Web site, www.lcintermodal.info, to outline the economic benefits that an intermodal transportation facility may bring to LaPorte County and to Indiana, as well as the due diligence process and approvals that would be required.

"Our regional, state and national economies depend on trade and the efficient flow of goods," Matt Reardon, LaPorte County Economic Development coordinator, said in a prepared release, "and we have the unique advantage of being located at the center of national transportation arteries."

Intermodal facilities transfer shipping containers from rail cars to semitrailers and vice versa. The facility of about 3,000 acres would be located near the intersection of U.S. 6 and Ind. 39, just west of the former Kingsbury Ordnance Plant.

"We are fortunate to have this rare opportunity to leverage our geographic location," John Regetz, executive director of the Michigan City Economic Development Corp., said in the release, "and we should not pass up the chance to potentially bring hundreds of millions of dollars of new investment to our community that could benefit our citizens and their children and grandchildren for years to come with high paying jobs and improvements to our public facilities."

The new Web site, which can also be accessed via a link from www.laportecounty.biz, will be updated periodically with statistics and information as it is received. Readers are welcome to submit their comments through the Web site to the LaPorte County economic development leaders.