VALPARAISO | Eleven people were appointed Tuesday to a Porter County board to focus on job creation and "shovel ready" development sites.

The size of the board was increased by two to meet the strong demand that arose after it was announced last month, said Porter County Commission President John Evans, R-North.

The members of the Economic Development Cabinet are Doug Olson, former Portage mayor and director of governmental affairs at SEH of Indiana; Ronald Belin, area general manager of Frontier Communications; Stewart McMillan, president of Task Force Tips; Heather Ennis, executive director of the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce; Kent Meihofer, senior vice president of of UGI Services; Tim Healy, Holladay Properties; Larry Hitz, owner of Prudential Executive Group Real Estate; Tom Golab, Rout 6 Development; Chris Hernandez, president of the Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council; and Harley Snyder and Jeff Good of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The group, to convene within the next two weeks, will be guided by RDA Executive Director Bill Hanna, Evans said.

Planning, tourism and economic development officials from the county, Portage and Valparaiso will serve as support staff.

Evans said last month the group will complete its work within 12 to 18 months. The process is expected to cost $100,000 or more, and the county will pick up 75 percent of the bill, he said.

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas said Tuesday he is seeing a growing number of companies relocate or expand their services in the area.

"This is a wonderful new opportunity for us all," he said.

Portage Mayor Jim Snyder said he was grateful for the input he has received from city residents.

"It's just important as a county we begin working together," he said.