>A top congressional aide told the closing session of the Strong Cities, Strong Communitiessymposium Wednesday that the steel industry, educational institutions and environmental cleanups are all laying the foundation for Northwest Indiana's growth.
And now, the region has one more reason to expect the best from the future, said U.S.Congressman Pete Visclosky's Chief of Staff Mark Lopez.
"President Obama's designation of Gary as a Strong City, Strong Community brings with it a wealth of knowledge gleaned from every region of our diverse country," Lopez said.
With more than half a dozen federal agencies teaming up to initiate development projects in Gary, the stage is set for new partnerships such as the South Shore extension and others, Lopez said.
The two-day Strong Cities, Strong Communities symposium got down to brass tacks at the Genesis Convention Center on Wednesday, with participants talking about concrete next steps for improving the region.
More than 100 participants put their heads together to come up with proposals for public health, industrial development, transit and other services in their own communities.
A 60,000-square-foot food bank, community gardens and safe places for children to play were some of the proposals from a final "Moving Forward" session on public health.
Airen Harris said she wants to duplicate her husband's establishment of a community garden in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood by planting one on empty lots across from her home in Gary. She said it would benefit both the many senior citizens in her neighborhood as well as young people.
"I'm ready to take the next step," she said.
Former Gary resident Terri Lee said she had heard plenty of ideas for improving public health that could be of use both in Gary and her current home of Indianapolis.
"I saw the potential for community health centers and urgent care in increasing the public's access to health care," she said. "That's something that could definitely occur in this region and Indianapolis."
Addison Pollock said a symposium brainstorming session on transit oriented development had opened his eyes to how creating walkable neighborhoods is one key to developing transit.
Also from Indianapolis, Pollock said it's definitely something his city's leaders are thinking about as they get ready for the next step in transit in the Hoosier Heartland, whether that be bus rapid transit or light commuter rail.