across multiple states, sees Hammond as uniquely positioned. “This is the first true market-rate residential development downtown in fifty years,” he notes. “It worked because the city believed in it, the state supported it, and the developer was willing to move first. Now the proof is there.” That proof has unlocked additional interest. Vacant parcels and underutilized buildings are now attracting attention for future mixed-use projects. Workforce housing—high-quality units at attainable rents—has become a particular focus, ensuring that teachers, first responders, manufacturing workers, and young professionals can live close to where they work. A BUSINESS CLIMATE BUILT ON PARTNERSHIP Beyond downtown, Hammond’s broader economic development strategy is anchored in collaboration. Rather than offering a rigid incentive package, the city evaluates each project individually, aligning tax increment financing, abatements, façade programs, land assembly, and state and federal tools such as New Markets Tax Credits to create tailored solutions. That flexibility has proven powerful. Major investments have followed, including the relocation and expansion of Meats by Linz, a fourth-generation premium meat company that invested more than $50 million in Hammond and created approximately 500 high-paying jobs. The company’s decision was influenced not only by incentives, but by Indiana’s overall business climate—workers’ compensation costs, utility rates, insurance, and regulatory predictability. Other manufacturers have followed suit. Crane manufacturer U.S. Go Cranes is investing $25 million and creating 100 jobs. Longtime Hammond company Davies Coatings is preparing a $15 million expansion tied to national infrastructure projects. Advanced manufacturers such as Revolut Machine are producing precision components for Space Force 119 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 HAMMOND AND THE LAKESHORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IN
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