INFRASTRUCTURE
Location, Location, Location!
A beacon of economic opportunity waits on the southern shores of Lake Michigan as east/west infrastructure is forced to converge and navigate around the Lake and north/south movement passes near Portage on it's way to the bustling Chicago metropolis. Whether by road, water, rail or air, Portage is a focal point for transportation in the Midwest.
Major highways
Portage is located on the I-80 and I-94 corridors and five miles from I-65.
Easy Access to Major Highways
International Port of Indiana—
Burns Harbor
Portage is home to the Port of Indiana - Burns Harbor, an international multi-modal facility focused on steel, agriculture and manufacturing. More than 500,000 trucks, 10,000 rail cars, 250 barges and 100 ships move through the Port each year. Home to more than 30 businesses, including three steel mills and 15 steel related companies, the Port moves cargo through the nation's inland waterway system to the Gulf of Mexico and through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the nation's east coast. The Port is a certified Foreign Trade Zone, allowing businesses to be competitive in today's global marketplace. Rail traffic, with more than 12 miles of track on Port property, connects to all Class I railroads.
Rail—Freight and Passenger
Norfolk Southern, CSX and South Shore Freight all provide freight service to Portage.
The South Shore Commuter Rail Line runs from South Bend, IN, through Portage, and into downtown Chicago. From the Portage/Ogden Dunes station, the ride to Chicago is currently just over an hour. When the new federally funded Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District's (NICTD) double track project is fully completed by 2024, commute time will be considerably shorter. South Shore Portage/Ogden Dunes rail station area has been designated as a Transit Development District (TDD), offering opportunities that will provide benefits to residents, commuters and potential investors.
Gary Airport
Airports
Gary/Chicago International Airport (16 miles)
Chicago Midway International Airport (46 miles)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (57 miles)
South Bend International Airport (54 miles)
Porter County Regional Airport (19 miles)
Utilities
(Portage EDC can help you gather information on all local utility services.)
Fiber/Communication - most of the major fiber providers serve the Portage area; NITCO is the local provider; South Shore Fiber is a dark fiber link from South Bend to Chicago running along the South Shore Commuter Rail Line corridor
Electric - NIPSCO is the area's electric provider
Natural gas - NIPSCO is the area's natural gas provider
Water - Indiana American Water is the area's water provider
Wastewater, storm and sewer - provided by the City of Portage Utility Services
NIPSCO is Partnering to Train Workforce to Achieve 100% Renewable Energy by 2028
Ameriplex—1/4 Mile to I-94
Industrial Parks
Ameriplex at the Port is a 385-acre master planned mixed use industrial business park in Portage. Located on I-94 less than a mile from the Port of Indiana and 40 minutes from downtown Chicago, Ameriplex is home to over 2,500 workers and a variety of manufacturing, transportation and commercial businesses.