On October 17, 2025, Lori Bebinger of the Indiana Brownfields Program presented, "What's in My Neighborhood?", a powerful overview of the state's resources for identifying, researching, and understanding brownfield sites, which are vital for the redevelopment of vacant and abandoned parcels in Gary.

On October 17, we at Gary Townmakers were thrilled to host John T. Morris, Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator for the Indiana Brownfields Program (IBP). John's message was one of great opportunity and the availability of financial resources!

On October 17, Gary Townmakers hosted a dynamic workshop, "Brownfields 101," featuring guest speaker Beth Grigsby, the Assistant Regional Director for Kansas State University's Technical Assistance to Brownfields (KSU TAB) program. The session offered a comprehensive look at how Gary can identify, assess, and redevelop brownfield sites, and underscored a powerful resource available to the city: KSU TAB's services are completely free.

At a recent meetup of the Gary Townmakers, participants engaged in a discussion about challenges Gary residents have with accessing fresh, healthy food. This issue was raised in light of recent, temporary health department closures of local food establishments, and the transportation issues some residents face in seeking out better food choices.

On September 8, 2025, Gary Townmakers kicked off its new season of First Mondays at J’s with an energizing event titled Unleashing the Power of Town Making.