The city of Gary is joining forces with Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in an ambitious bid to become the future home of the Lake County Convention Center.
This high-profile partnership was approved by Gary’s Board of Works on Sept. 20 and is part of the city’s efforts to revitalize the area and create new economic opportunities.
“We have the opportunity to be bold and leverage our best assets to maximize what a convention center could yield for Lake County’s economy,” Gary’s mayor, Eddie Melton, said in a statement announcing the partnership.
Melton, who was elected earlier this year, has made the redevelopment of Gary one of his main priorities. It is estimated that the convention center will bring $60 million in annual economic activity to the area.
Gary is one of several cities expected to submit a proposal for the convention center by the Oct. 16 deadline. The winning proposal is scheduled to be selected June 1, 2025.
Lake County Commissioner Mike Repay said there are “a lot of factors” that will determine which municipality will be awarded the convention center.
“It’s not just money, it’s not just location, it’s not just the ability to complete the project,” Repay told The Times of Northwest Indiana in May. “All of those are important, and they’re all interconnected.”
Lake County commissioners began requesting proposals for the project after a unanimous vote at a meeting earlier this year. Some of the funding for Gary’s convention center would come from state Senate Bill 434, a bill that Melton helped author while still a senator. The bill funds costs associated with demolishing a qualified property in and surrounding the Gary metro area.
The city and its partners are considering building the convention at the Hard Rock Casino site.
Gary would receive up to $5 million in annual state matching funds for the project.
To secure the convention center, Melton has teamed up with the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Robinson Engineering, and infrastructure firm AECOM to create a successful bid.
“We believe that this will be a huge economic driver for all of Lake County and will have a large positive impact on the community,” added Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana President Matt Schuffert.
A March study by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority ranked Hobart’s Patriot Park as the top site for the proposed convention center, with Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary as the second choice.
The study suggested that the chosen location must construct a 145,000-square-foot convention center with 73,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, including a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, an 18,000-square-foot ballroom, and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The convention center will create over 1,300 full-time, part-time, and temporary construction jobs while boosting local and state tax revenue by more than $3.5 million annually, according to the study.
“I believe Gary’s strategic location will attract more visitors, boost tourism, and create numerous job opportunities,” Melton said in the statement. “Additionally, it will stimulate local businesses and foster a vibrant community atmosphere, making Gary a more attractive destination for both residents and tourists.”