Mayor Melton and Hard Rock Team up with $3m boost for downtown Gary revitalization

Thursday, March 28, 2024

In an initiative to promote economic expansion in downtown Gary, Mayor Eddie Melton alongside Matt Schuffert, President of Hard Rock Northern Indiana, announced a significant $3 million donation from Hard Rock today. This substantial gift is earmarked for the eradication of blight within the Metro Transit Development District (TDD) of Gary, primarily around the downtown area’s Broadway Corridor. The announcement was made during a press conference at Gary City Hall.

This donation from Hard Rock plays a crucial role in a blight elimination matching grant program, which is a component of Indiana SB 434. This economic development legislation was penned by Mayor Melton in his capacity as State Senator and was enacted in 2023. The legislation offers two $3 million grants to the City of Gary for blight removal within its Metro TDD for the years 2024 and 2025, contingent upon the city securing $6 million in matching funds.

Mayor Melton expressed his vision for the transformation of downtown Gary. “This catalytic donation from Hard Rock marks a new chapter in Gary’s story, one where we begin to turn the page on blight and write our future. A future in which Gary residents see real change and feel a renewed sense of pride in our downtown Broadway Corridor. With this $3M contribution, we are planting seeds of hope and growth for our downtown.”

According to Hard Rock Casino President Matt Schuffert, “Hard Rock is pleased to support Mayor Melton’s mission to improve the economic development of the City of Gary by demolishing the blighted properties that currently stand in the way. Our announcement today of Hard Rock’s transfer of $3 million dollars to help support the City’s contributions to the Northwest Indiana RDA’s blighted property demolition fund confirms our mission of ‘All Is One’, which has been Hard Rock’s motto throughout local and global communities since 1971. Giving back is core to the Hard Rock brand, and Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has been making good on that mission since we opened our doors in Gary in 2021.”

Sherri Ziller, President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA), highlighted the RDA’s essential role in fostering regional economic growth and in managing the Transit Development District Program. Furthermore, Tai A. Adkins, President of Gary Common Council, emphasized the Council’s dedication to collaborate with the Melton Administration on crucial redevelopment initiatives moving forward.

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