(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody is getting an early foot in the door in the ongoing effort to obtain more federal infrastructure dollars. Dermody met with Congressman Frank Mrvan at La Porte City Hall on Monday.

Mrvan, a Democrat from Hammond, represents mostly Lake and Porter counties in a congressional district including Michigan City. If Mrvan wins reelection next year, he will represent the west side of La Porte because of how the new district boundaries were redrawn. As a result, much of LaPorte will move from Jackie Walorski's district to Mrvan's. 

Dermody said it's essential to get a head start with Mrvan knowing the need to go after federal dollars for La Porte if reelected in 2022. With a new infrastructure bill getting passed by Congress, the city of LaPorte wants to make sure its projects are not forgotten. 

“We want to make sure we have relationships with everybody,” he said.

Dermody said money for a new economic corridor around the downtown and existing streets was among the specific items he discussed with the congressman.