GARY/EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA

A. Zone Vital Statistics:

1. Population of the Most Populous City: Gary - 116,646
2. Zone Population: 48,889
3. Approximate Zone Size: 17 square miles
4. Poverty Rate: Approximately 40%
5. Unemployment Rates: 7.1%-Gary - the State's unemployment rate is 2.8%
6. Education: Approximately 25% of Zone residents over age 25 in the Brunswick Neighborhood, 45% in the Central/Mission Neighborhood, and 44% in the Emerson Neighborhood lack a high school diploma.

B. Estimated Number of Jobs Created or Retained: 10,000

C. Proposed Leveraged Commitments: $700 million

1. Public Sector: $200 million
2. Private Sector: $500 million

D. Key Business Partnerships:
Over 20 businesses made commitments in the Strategic Plan. Some of the key business partners are:

• NBD Bank
• Bank Calumet
• Peoples Bank
• Citizens Financial Services
• Sand Ridge Bank
• Centier Bank
• Pinnacle Bank
• Lake Federal Savings and Loan Assoc.
• American Trust & Savings
• American Savings FSB
• National City
• Bank One
• Security Federal Bank
• Merchantile National Bank of Indiana
• Zip-A-Tee Shirt Manufacturing
• Curtis and Associates Employment Co.
• Geric Home Health Care, Inc.

E. List of Other Key Partners:

• Interfaith Foundation
• Urban Enterprise Foundation
• Indiana University Northwest
• YMCA
• Purdue University Calumet
• Urban League of Northwest Indiana
• Lake Area United Way
• Gary Police Foundation

F. List of Developable Sites:

• Gary Airport
• Burns Ditch
• Gibson Yards

Content Archived: January 20, 2009