Chris White, president and CEO of the United Way of Northwest Indiana, Times of Northwest Indiana
Every young person faces a moment of decision: do I stay, or do I go? For communities on the edges of major cities — or far-flung from them entirely — the choice too often tilts toward leaving. From rural counties across the Midwest to industrial suburbs around Chicago, families and especially young adults have been steadily pulled toward places they perceive as offering more opportunity.
A recent article published in Monocle (Joseph Plehan, Aug. 27, 2025) centered on an unlikely place, the Faroe Islands — a cluster of windswept rocks in the North Atlantic — that offers a roadmap for how regions like ours can fight back against that pattern. Two decades ago, the Faroes were in crisis. Young people left in droves, seeking education and careers abroad, with little incentive to return. Yet within a decade, the trend reversed. Today, the islands are not only keeping their people, but attracting them back, younger and more energized than before.
What worked there has striking relevance for Northwest Indiana. The lesson is clear: communities grow when they invest boldly in connection, opportunity and families. And here in the Region, while we’ve made real progress in transportation and jobs, the next frontier — if we want to keep our young families and attract new ones — is tackling the high cost and limited availability of quality childcare.
Learning from the Faroes
The Faroes’ turnaround was built on three pillars. First, they invested in world-class infrastructure. Undersea tunnels made even the most remote islands accessible, and 5G internet extended opportunity to every fishing village and farmstead. Suddenly, no corner of the Faroes was “too far.”
Second, they supported families directly. A year of paid leave, heavily subsidized childcare, and affordable housing gave young people confidence they could build a life at home without being crushed by costs.
Finally, they built pride in place. Faroese beer, music, and language are thriving. The islands no longer see themselves as merely Danish outposts but as a confident community with something to offer the world.
The remarkable part is not that they had money — though subsidies helped — but that they chose to direct resources toward people’s everyday lives. That decision has paid off not only in population stability but in vibrancy.
The Region’s own story
Here in Northwest Indiana, we share some of the same challenges — and opportunities. For generations, our story has been one of people leaving for Chicago or beyond. Yet recently, there’s been real progress that should give us pride.
On infrastructure, the double-track rail expansion to Chicago promises faster commutes, unlocking access to jobs while making it easier for city workers to settle here. Major highway improvements are reshaping corridors like the Borman Expressway and U.S. 30. Our airports and ports remain critical connectors for freight and business.
On jobs, the Region is pivoting from its industrial legacy toward a more diverse economy. Investments in logistics, health care, education, and advanced manufacturing are bearing fruit. New employers are setting up shop, and partnerships between local governments, unions, and economic development agencies are positioning us to compete in a 21st-century economy.
And perhaps most important, there’s a growing cultural confidence. Our arts organizations, breweries and local businesses are thriving. Cities like Hammond, Gary, Valparaiso and Michigan City are increasingly seen not just as “near Chicago” but as places with their own character and potential.
These are the building blocks of growth. But if we want to fully reverse our own brain drain — if we want young families to not only come here but stay — we have to take the next step.
The childcare challenge
Ask any working parent in Northwest Indiana what their biggest barrier is, and you’ll hear the same thing: childcare. The Region has some of the highest rates of working mothers in Indiana, but too many families find themselves stuck between long waitlists, inconsistent quality, and costs that rival a mortgage payment.
This isn’t just a family issue — it’s an economic one. When parents can’t find affordable childcare, they leave the workforce or pass up promotions. When workers leave, employers struggle to grow. And when young families feel squeezed, they move to communities that make raising children easier.
The Faroe Islands understood this: childcare isn’t a luxury, it’s infrastructure. Just like tunnels and trains, it keeps the economy flowing. If Northwest Indiana wants to compete with suburbs to the west or communities across the country, we need to make childcare a central part of our growth strategy.
A call to action
Imagine if our region became known as the best place in the Midwest to raise a family — not just for affordable housing, not just for proximity to Chicago, but because we made it possible for every parent to balance work and family with dignity. Imagine if businesses considering relocation knew they could count on a stable, supported workforce because childcare wasn’t a barrier.
That’s the kind of investment that would pay dividends for decades. It would mean more young professionals staying after college, more families moving in rather than out, and more children growing up in the Region proud to call it home.
The Faroes didn’t succeed by clinging to nostalgia. They built for the future by asking: what will make people want to return? Northwest Indiana can do the same. We’ve already proven we can build tunnels of our own—rail lines, highways, job pipelines. Now let’s take on the childcare challenge with the same urgency.
Because when families can thrive here, the Region as a whole will thrive too.