[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF LAPORTE, INDIANA, AS BEING NAMED THE INDIANA 
             CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2005 COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS CHOCOLA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, it should come as no surprise to anyone who 
has recently visited LaPorte, Indiana that the Indiana Chamber of 
Commerce named the city its ``2005 Community of the Year.'' .
  The honor was bestowed on LaPorte at the Chamber's 16th Annual Awards 
Dinner, held in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 10, 2005.
  More than 1,400 members of the Hoosier state business community 
gathered for the annual awards banquet, including a delegation of over 
50 LaPorte Chamber of Commerce members, which, I am told, is the 
largest group ever from a community receiving the award during its 16-
year existence.
  The state Chamber noted that LaPorte received this distinction 
largely because it has ``enjoyed an economic revival under [LaPorte 
Mayor Leigh Morris] and the businesslike approach he implemented at 
City Hall.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would have to agree with the Chamber's conclusion.
  In the past year, LaPorte has seen their business environment thrive. 
Three businesses have started new operations in the area, and 4 
existing businesses continued their growth, adding over 100 new jobs 
between them.
  Mayor Morris has had help in his efforts to bring new and grow 
existing businesses in LaPorte County. He formed a cooperative, 
bipartisan effort between himself, Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie, 
the LaPorte County commissioners, and Purdue-North Central University. 
This coalition is committed to seeing continued economic growth in 
LaPorte County.
  I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of LaPorte Chamber of 
Commerce President Mike Seitz and the Greater LaPorte Economic 
Development Corporation Executive Director Owen Rock. They have worked 
together with Mayor Morris to help move LaPorte forward.
  Mr. Speaker, LaPorte is clearly a community on the rise, and I 
congratulate Mayor Morris and the entire community on being named the 
Indiana Chamber of Commerce's ``2005 Community of the Year.''

                          ____________________