LaPorte: like the "Maple City" downtown improvements, LaPorte's economic-development picture is brighter.

• Author: Richards, Rick A.
• Position: Spotlight - LaPorte offers small-town atmosphere

Known as the Maple City, LaPorte prides itself on its small-town atmosphere. Matthew J. Vigneault, executive director of the Greater LaPorte Economic Development Corp., says that trait has turned out to be one of the city's biggest assets when it comes to luring new business, and the city has sought to build upon that charm.

Everywhere you look downtown, it seems, is an improvement. New sidewalks, decorative street lights, brick crosswalks, even special concrete pads along downtown sidewalks embossed with either a maple leaf or the name of a store. There are planters, each one displaying a sign with the group or family responsible for maintaining its flowers in the summer.

"We do get a lot of compliments on our downtown," says Vigneault. "When people visit LaPorte, I think they're pleasantly surprised. We have a lot of diversity in our county. It's an interesting mix."

In recent months, instead of having to deal with business closings, Vigneault has been announcing new businesses, as well as word that LaPorte is in the running for more new businesses.

The most recent announcements involved Leveltek Processing, a West Virginia company that processes steel. It will move into a 68,000-square-foot building that was put up in the Indiana 39 North Conservancy District industrial park just north of the city on Indiana 39 near the interchange with the Indiana Toll Road.

Leveltek's president, Mike Kelly, says the company will invest $4 million on new equipment that will be used to correct the flatness in coils of stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, copper and other metals. When Leveltek opens it will employ 30 people.

LaPorte Mayor Kathy Chroback also recently announced that Al-Bach Precision Inc., an Illinois-based company that makes...