Michigan City wins state community achievement award

The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns is naming Michigan City a 2015 Community Achievement Award winner.

The award is in recognition of the city’s $20 million plan to build up the downtown area in the next five years.

Michigan City has developed a new strategy that’s expected to support thousands of jobs and make the city a year-round attraction.

On Wednesday, Mayor Ron Meer accepted the award at a ceremony in French Lick, Indiana.

According to Mayor Meer, he and the city leaders are hoping the rebranding will draw in a crowd from Chicago.

“We have some private investors,” he said. “They’re looking very carefully at Michigan City right now and quite honestly, the other part here is a very important issue: rebranding us and marketing us across the Midwest and into the Chicago region.”