Mayor Blair Milo discusses big move

LA PORTE, Ind. - The mayor of La Porte is embarking on a new adventure within Governor Eric Holcomb’s cabinet. She discussed her big move Friday exclusively with ABC 57’s Jess Arnold.

From serving La Porte city to the entire state, Mayor Blair Milo will become Indiana’s first ever Secretary of Career Connection and Talent come August.

“I’m excited to join a team that is focused on a portfolio really of issues that have been at the forefront of challenges and opportunities that we’ve faced in the city of La Porte,” namely, growing the workforce and retaining talent, said La Porte Mayor Blair Milo.

In a press conference Thursday, Governor Holcomb said, “She is uniquely qualified for this position. She’s seen on her watch over $260 million of economic investment. She’s ushered in on her watch 1,100 jobs.”

“And then really being able to grow the business climate here in the city, addressing infrastructure challenges and building a positive lifestyle environment, really I think really has been a great story of success,” said Mayor Milo.

One example is her Fitness Fridays that she started in 2012.

With bookcases full of success stories, like the Alcoa groundbreaking and the Thomas Rose Industrial Park groundbreaking, Milo’s ready to add some more spokes to her ‘Hub of Awesome,’ as she calls La Porte.

“We thought about what is the ultimate goal, service that we want provided for the Hoosier as a result of this concept, and that is career connection, not just a job, but a career and an area where they’re going to feel passionate and engaged and excited to want to get up every day and want to be a part of this work environment,” said Milo.

That’s how she feels about serving her country, her hometown, and now the Hoosier state.

“We are growing so many jobs, but how are we then connecting people with those kinds of opportunities? Getting them matched up with the skillsets, the training certifications that they need?” said Milo.

Answering these questions will be one part of the secretary’s new mission.

“I’ve ultimately seen this as a way to better serve the community here and then cities like La Porte across the state to help all cities thrive, and to serve a larger number of people overall,” said Mayor Milo.

She’s hoping to ‘fly the W’ in her new office as well.

Mayor Blair Milo’s first day working for Governor Holcomb will be August 14, before which she’ll be resigning from her role as mayor.