Northwest Indiana update: the region's top business news.

• Author: Richards, Rick A.
• Position: REGIONAL REPORT: NORTHWEST

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of Purdue University's technology park near Crown Point in Lake County, technology again is making news in the heart of the nation's steel industry

In Hammond, the city's first business incubator opened last month as a partnership of Purdue University Calumet and the city of Hammond.

The Hammond INnovation Center has opened in an 8,200-square-foot building that was formerly owned by Mercantile National Bank. After Mercantile was taken over by Harris Bank, the building wasn't needed and was donated to the city, says center director Gregory Boyan, a Hammond native and Purdue graduate.

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With a $1.15 million grant from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the building was renovated and has room for 14 businesses. While none is in the building yet, he says, "there are three or four who are ready to sign up" once renovations are completed the first week in May.

"This allows us to use the resources of Purdue Calumet while encouraging small business in Hammond," Boyan says. The center will provide space, phone, computing and other support services to businesses that locate in the center.

Another big announcement for Lake County development was an ethanol production facility in Merrillville. In an agreement with the Lake County Solid Waste Management District, Indiana Ethanol Power is expected to begin construction on the first facility of its kind in the United States to convert commercial and municipal solid waste into ethanol.

The announcement, made by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman on April 1, notes the $100 million project is expected to employ between 120 and 130 people. When the plant is operational, it is expected to produce 20 million gallons of ethanol a year.

Negotiations between IEP and Lake County are under way, but no date for a groundbreaking has been announced.

"Lake County has been making strides to become a leader in new economic development opportunities while dealing with a transitioning economy," notes Skillman. "Indiana Ethanol Power is delivering such an opportunity with cutting-edge technology to Lake County"

Joining Skillman in making the announcement, Zig Resiak of Indiana Ethanol Power says, "We are firmly committed to utilizing the local work force in building the state-of-the-art facility in Lake County."

New hospitals. In health care development, two new hospitals are on the drawing board in Porter County, says Rex Richards, executive director of the Valparaiso Chamber of...