United NWI

NWI’s diversity is celebrated, and we work together as a community across racial, ethnic, political and cultural lines for the mutual benefit of the region.

The year 2020 is fast approaching as we begin the Fall season! Not only is the year 2020 the start of a new decade, but also the year for the next U.S. Census where everyone should be and is counted for in the places that they live. The concept of performing a United States Census can be traced back directly to the founding of our country in the United States Constitution, where it states: “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may include within this Union, according to their respective Numbers…” (The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 2).

Your participation is important because it results in making sure your community receives the amount of funding for schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other vital programs that it deserves. Participate in the U.S. Census, share the importance of the U.S. Census to your community, and receive the proper representation that you deserve!  

For more information on what the U.S. Census Bureau has to say on how the census benefits your community click here. 

Interesting News!

In September 2019, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a report documenting the needs of late-shift workers and transportation to and from employment. According to the report, 17% of all workers in America work a late shift. In areas like Northwestern Indiana, large-scale manufacturing employs late-shift workers to keep factories continually operating. Large-scale manufacturing makes up a significant portion of Northwestern Indiana’s market-share. 

Unlike other portions of the workforce, late-shift workers face additional challenges related to transportation. Wages for late-shift workers are often significantly less than day-workers, making transportation costs comparatively more expensive. Due to the stresses associated with shift-work, late-shift workers have higher-than average turnover rates. Efforts made to improve the transportation burden of late-shift workers would not only improve the lives of the workers, but also have significant savings for employers as well. For the full report, please follow this link.

Pick Your Favorite!

The Indiana Coastal Cooperative Weed Management Area (ICCWMA) was formally organized in 2009 and is an offshoot of the Northwest Indiana Invasive Plant Network (NIIPN).The mission of the ICCWMA is to strategically protect biodiversity and natural communities from the threats presented by invasive plants within the Lake Michigan Coastal Zone in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties.

Cooperative Weed Management Areas allow partners to share and leverage limited resources. Formal partners to date include the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, Indiana Dunes National Park, Save the Dunes, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and The Nature Conservancy. Additional cooperating partners include the Indiana Department of Transportation and Porter County Parks.

In 2017 the Northwestern Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) published a Transit-Oriented Development Plan for Hammond, Munster, and Dyer. This plan primarily focused on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) extension of the South Shore Line along the Illinois and Indiana border.

The 2017 plan primarily helped frame the conversation for communities specifically affected by the West Lake Corridor, however the plan is rich in details that can benefit other communities seeking to establish a transit-oriented development (TOD).Even though the plan focuses on the West Lake Corridor, another prominent NICTD expansion effort to double-track the South Shore train from the City of Gary’s Metro Center to Michigan City. Communities such as Michigan City, Portage, Chesterton, and Gary can look to the previous work completed by the RDA to understand how they can participate in developing or modernizing a TOD plan.

To view the Transit-Oriented Development Plan, click here.

Participation Opportunity!

NIRPC is currently surveying NWI residents, businesses, and travelers on their experience with congestion. NIRPC is updating NWI's Congestion Management Process, which influences the kind of investments and planning NIRPC and INDOT can pursue in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. Please take some time to share your thoughts!

NIRPC Commission/Executive Board Meeting

Indiana Trails Town Workshop

Funding Opportunity!

NIRPC Environmental Management and Policy Committee Meeting or Workshop

Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable

Funding Opportunity!

NIRPC Commission/Executive Board Meeting

Diversity and Inclusion Symposium 2019 - Save the Date

Funding Opportunity!

Funding Opportunity!