LEAF HISTORY

In 1982, the Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce initiated a project to provide a mechanism for structured economic growth in the LaPorte area. This was the result of a realization that a long-term program for industrial and retail growth needed to be developed in order to enable LaPorte to market itself aggressively. Consensus of the need for such a program was reached at the Chamber's Leadership Retreat held in August of 1982.

LEAF was initially designed as a five-year program. LEAF's original objective was to generate 750 new LaPorte-area jobs. Since its inception, LEAF has facilitated the creation of approximately 2,340 jobs and $160 million in capital investment.

Today the LaPorte Economic Advancement Foundation provides funding for the Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce's business retention/expansion program, and other community development projects. The Foundation uses interest generated by a restricted fund of nearly $1 million to fund the various programs.

In October, 1997 as a response to a growing concern related to literacy skills among area workers, LEAF established the Open Door Reading & Writing Center. This education center was developed in cooperation with Kankakee Valley Workforce Development Center and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) as a way to help improve LaPorte's workforce by offering free education to those looking to improve their reading and writing skills.

In January, 2005 the Open Door Center was transferred to the Adult Basic Education program of the AK Smith Career Center. The Center is currently located at 300 Legacy Plaza West in the Sagamore Business Center,

In August, 2006 the LEAF Board of Directors voted to invest $250,000 as seed money to create the LaPorte Community Development partnership.  This money will be used to assist in the development of NewPorte Landing (City of LaPorte Brownfield site) and other economic development initiatives.

Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce
414 Lincolnway • P.O. Box 486 • LaPorte, IN 46352 • 219-362-3178

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