NIPSCO will draw electricity from a new wind farm in central Indiana capable of powering 80,000 homes a year.
EDP Renewables and NIPSCO now have partnered on four Indiana renewable energy projects totaling more than 800 megawatts, or enough to light and heat about 200,000 houses in the Hoosier State. The Merrillville-based utility is transitioning away from climate-harming fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources as part of a long-term plan.
NIPSCO and EDP Renewables North America, the fourth-largest wind energy operator in the United States, just opened the 302-megawatt Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm in White County. They had a ribbon-cutting celebration with many dignitaries Friday.
“The state of Indiana — and specifically, White County — is essential to EDP’s portfolio and is one of the most important sites worldwide for EDP Renewables’ ongoing renewable energy development and operations efforts,” said Miguel Stilwell, EDP and EDP Renewables CEO. “One thing is very clear: Hoosiers are ready for more renewable energy, and EDP Renewables is ready to deliver.”
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Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm encompasses 72 wind turbines capable of powering more than 80,000 homes a year. It's expected to start production by the end of the year.
“The completion of Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm is a testament to the hard work and dedication from the many stakeholders who worked together to propel this project toward operation,” said Pablo Vegas, NiSource COO and President Utilities. “Together with the communities we serve, NIPSCO and NiSource are driving forward with a diverse mix of renewable resources to provide a cleaner, reliable and lower-cost energy future for our customers.”
NIPSCO decided in 2018 to shutter coal-fired electricity generation such as at the Michigan City Generating Station and switch to wind and solar, believing they would end up being lower cost options in the long run. It partnered with EDP Renewables, the largest wind energy producer in Indiana with 1,200 MW of operating capacity that produces enough electricity to power more than 319,000 average Indiana homes.
“Renewable energy is our future, and the completion of Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm merited a celebration,” said state Rep. Sharon Negele. “This project is a great example of how a county that has embraced clean energy can bring new jobs, new tax revenue, and new economic opportunities to their communities.”
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Candy store, menswear store, Big Daddy's BBQ and Culver's opening; Benedict closes
Open
Gilbert's Candy is serving up something sweet in Chesterton.
"My husband and I recently opened a candy store in Chesterton, specializing in our own candies as well as treats from other small businesses and nostalgia candies," owner Jennifer Gilbert said. "We carry both items we make ourselves and that are hard to find from small businesses across the country."
The sweet shop is located at 1050 Broadway in The Factory, which is the same building occupied by Chesterton Brewery, the Duneland Station Deli and Mission Escape. It was a historic china factory built about a century ago.
Gilbert's Candy specializes in chocolates but that's not all it offers.
"We've become known for our root beer float bar, our chocolate bar that really does taste like a root beer float," Gilbert said.
Gilbert's Candy also sells vintage candies like Slo Pokes, Charleston Chews, Bazooka Joe gum, Astro Pops, Wacky Wafers, Turkish Taffy and Tart 'N Tiny bulk candy.
"It's a nostalgic candy section," she said. "It's all the stuff we grew up with, as well as harder to find candies."
She previously worked at a candy magazine, a job that gave her the opportunity to tour many candy factories. She and her husband David also love the fudge while visiting Mackinac Island in Michigan.
They decided to start the business during the coronavirus pandemic.
"When everything was shut down, my husband was looking for something to make him happy," she said. "Candy always makes people happy. It was something good to bring the community."
'A place for families and kids'
They make their own chocolate at a commercial kitchen in Valparaiso. They sell cracked corn from Ohio, candy clusters from Tennessee and toffee from North Carolina. Gilbert's sells candy by the box, including chocolates and cherry cordials. It hopes to add fudge, cotton candy and truffles for the holiday season, and just put out the peppermint.
"They have some fun recipes we want to bring the community," she said. "Our goal is for it to be a place for families and kids to get a sweet treat and make memories and have some fun."
They've tried to create a historic ambiance in the 1,600-square-foot space, showcasing the exposed beams, wood floors and exposed brick walls.
"When you walk in, you can tell right away it's a historic building," she said.
The shop sells more than 1,000 types of candy with new products coming in all the time. Customers who visit every few weeks can always expect something new, Gilbert said.
"We specifically wanted to be in Chesterton because we know how supportive it is of small businesses," she said. "The town previously had candy stores for many years that people remember fondly. People that are a little older have memories going to the neighborhood candy store and are excited to be coming back."
It also hopes to be a summer stop for visitors headed to the nearby Indiana Dunes.
"Kids like to stop in after school," she said. "They ride their bikes and spend their allowance money."
'Kid-approved'
Gilbert's Candy is constantly adding new items such as treats for dogs.
"Whenever something is new it's either kid-approved by our kids or dog-approved," she said. "We try to be really different in only offering high quality. We're very picky with the items we bring in. We try everything we have in the store. Some items are adult-approved."
Customers can try the candy themselves before they commit to a purchase.
"We believe in free samples and letting people try before they buy," Gilbert said.
Gilbert's Candy is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 219-552-2369, visit GilbertsCandy.com or find the business on Facebook and Instagram.
Open
JMC Men’s Apparel offers men's clothing in Merrillville.
The new store opened at 27 W. 80th Place, taking over a space previously occupied by a karate dojo and pizzeria.
"I just opened a men’s apparel store n Merrillville," owner Claudiette Mabon said. "I’m very excited about the response from customers so far. I’m carrying dress, casual, suits, sport coats, walking suits, sweaters, slacks, etc. ... no denim. I’m also doing appointments to shop, giving my customers a unique shopping experience."
The store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call 219-472-0252.
Closed
Benedict, a breakfast and brunch spot on highly trafficked U.S. 30 in Dyer, has served its last Boston omelet and poached egg.
The restaurant was located at 1103 Joliet St. in Dyer in the same strip mall as the hugely popular restaurant Little Italy. Benedict offered breakfast, lunch and catering. It specialized in omelets, breakfast bowls, buttermilk pancakes, Texas French Toast, cheesy croissants, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash and eggs and of course its namesake eggs benedict.
Reopen
Big Baddy's BBQ reopened its Schererville restaurant just off U.S. 30 last month.
The restaurant, which also has locations in Gary and Hammond, hopes to rebuilt the business, said Darquia Biffle, who co-owns with her husband Gordon.
"We reopened our Schererville location on October 14th. We originally opened this location in October of 2019, but closed earlier this year in April, due to staffing issues,"
Big Daddy's BBQ, Blues and Brews is located at 2330 Cline Ave. in Schererville.
It's currently open 12-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Open
Culver's opened the first new standalone restaurant in Chicago's South Side Pullman neighborhood in decades.
Baron Waller, Culver’s largest African-American franchise owner with six Chicagoland locations, opened the first newly constructed casual sit-down dining establishment in the neighborhood in more than 30 years at the corner of 111th and Doty avenues. He built a 4,300-square-foot Culver's at a site previously owned by Ryerson Steel just a few blocks east of the Pullman National Monument that's draws an estimated 300,000 visitors a year.
The new restaurant, which received a $250,000 Neighborhood Opportunity Grant from the city of Chicago, is bringing 70 new jobs.
Culver's is known for its Wisconsin-inspired cuisine like butter burgers, cheese curds and frozen custard.
The chain also will get another Northwest Indiana location by the Cabela's in Hammond next year.
#Blessed
Bishop Robert J. McClory recently blessed Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s new Lake County headquarters in the Illiana Building in Whiting.
The bishop of the Diocese of Gary prayed for the bank to do its work fairly and thanked it for helping the diocese apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan.
“Our mission is to abolish poverty. A generation of Lake County folks will now be some of the savviest financial literacy folks in the country," Chief Retail Officer/Northwest Indiana Market President John Wilkening said. "We will educate them to make financially sound decisions and avoid common financial pitfalls many of us have fallen victim to.”
Notre Dame FCU President and CEO Tom Gryp said the credit union puts people before profit. He said it follows Catholic social teaching an seeks financial empowerment for its members.
“We are all mortal, but our professional mortality is even more finite," Gryp said. "Our basis in Catholic social teaching is a road map on how to be a successful business and at the same time help people. We strive to be financially sustainable and to give back as much as we can to our members, partners, and the communities we serve.”
The credit union, which was founded in South Bend in 1941, now has more than $800 million in assets and 60,000 members across the globe. It donated $1,000 to the Diocese of Gary after the blessing ceremony and has extended membership to all members of the diocese.
For more information, visit www.NotreDameFCU.com.
If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.
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Joseph S. Pete
Business Reporter
Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times since 2013 and blogs about craft beer, culture and the military.
