Despite the Porter County Council’s 4-3 vote to withdraw from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, municipal officials want the county to stay in.

Porter Town officials announced this morning that they are moving forward with plans to submit a $19 million application to the RDA for four projects in the town of Porter.

At the same time, officials called a press conference for early this afternoon at the Portage Lakefront Park, one of the RDA-funded projects. Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez said the municipal officials hope to convince the Porter County Council to reconsider its RDA vote. Representatives from Chesterton, Burns Harbor, Valparaiso and Portage were expected.

Also this morning, the Porter Town Redevelopment Commission announced that it is proceeding with a decision made on Feb. 24 to apply for funds from the RDA.

The redevelopment commission had voted to authorize SEH, Inc. to apply for a series of grants to fund the Ind. 49 Lakeshore Gateway Corridor Development Project. The total grant application is for $19.7 million and would be spread over three years.

The project consists of four projects: The Ind. 49 Lakeshore Gatway Sub-Area Plan “Gateway to the Indiana Dunes,” the Ind. 49 reconstruction project, the “Gateway to the Indiana Dunes” alternative transportation study, and a portion of the proposed Dunes Kankakee Trail.

“We are finding that the Town of Porter is at the center of several community development opportunities for Porter County. We are proud and excited to do our part to improve the quality of life and create jobs in our area. We welcome this opportunity to ask the RDA to participate,” redevelopment commission president Micheal Genger said in a statement.

SEH Inc. will make a formal presentation regarding the RDA funding request at the Porter redevelopment meeting at 6 p.m. at the Porter Town Hall Tuesday.

The Porter County Council will also meet Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m.

Posted 4/27/2009