As Northwest Indiana’s Regional Economic Development Organization and the Voice of Business Leadership, the Forum’s charge is to create/retain quality jobs and capital investment fostered by a business friendly climate, all in harmony with the environment.

The Forum takes positions on issues that its investors determine will have an effect on the development and creation of a strong globally competitive economy in Northwest Indiana. Focusing efforts on four areas; we can address the most critical issues facing business and industry and the challenges of economic development. Positions are intended to facilitate smart planning and growth, support communities with incentive options, attract companies with the potential to create and retain quality jobs, improve the quality of life and support the Forum’s mission to increased broad based wealth in Northwest Indiana. A proactive policy approach is necessary to maintain Northwest Indiana's business climate.

The four main areas of interest for the Forum:

 PUBLIC POLICY WHICH PROVIDES FOR A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE.

POLICY OR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WOULD IMPROVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. 

PUBLIC POLICY WHICH PROVIDES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WHICH PROVIDES FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROTECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. 

2025 Legislative Agenda

As the regional economic development organization and the Voice of Northwest Indiana businesses representing Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Starke, Newton and Pulaski counties, it is the Forum’s mission to create the most dynamic economic environment of the Midwest, fueled by innovation, diversity, and talent. The Forum looks for ways to partner with the Legislature to drive meaningful legislation that support the Pillars of IGNITE. The following represent our top priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session.

1

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING

Promote robust and sustainable growth by engaging in a proactive, economic development program that supports business retention, expansion, creation, and attraction. The Forum will advocate for proposed language supportive of improving flexibility of existing incentives and new tools for economic investment ready assets.

2

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
Foster robust entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems to propel future economic growth. During the IGNITE plan interview process, the most energized stakeholder group that provided input was a roundtable of regional entrepreneurs. The Forum will be closely monitoring legislation supporting relevant components to enhancing small business creation, entrepreneurship and innovation.

3

INFRASTRUCTURE

Ensures that Northwest Indiana’s infrastructure meets the needs of a 21st-century economy. Northwest Indiana is the Crossroads of America, supporting legislation to provide resources for continual improvements to our transportation system is critical. Monitoring language impacting uniformity in permitting certainty will be a Forum focus. Permitting certainty is a highly desirable quality that will continue to attract rural, urban and suburban economic projects ranging from small business to significant investments.

4

5

TALENT

Expand the talent assets of Northwest Indiana and strengthen connections to the region’s employers. Workforce infrastructure is a complex array of needs. In addition to the traditional educational focus related to Talent growth, the Forum recognizes that available high-quality childcare and affordable housing units are a priority. Our focus will include all of these.

PLACEMAKING

Creates the amenities and places that enhance Northwest Indiana’s appeal to diverse groups of people. Providing support for new and continued tools for local use to enhance the development of transit-oriented development infrastructure will generate an opportunity for mix-use development and ecotourism in Northwest Indiana.