Hard Rock Casino donates $3M to downtown Gary revitalization project

GARY, Ind. — The city of Gary, Indiana, is getting a financial boost to help revitalize its downtown area and reduce blight in the city.

The Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana is donating $3 million to help with economic development.

At last count, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton says about 6,000 abandoned structures remain in the area, posing a serious threat to public safety.

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“Their generous support will be instrumental in our mission to transform and uplift our community,” Melton said at a Tuesday press conference announcing the donation. “The revitalization of downtown Gary is not merely about cosmetic enhancements or economic development. It’s about fostering a thriving hub that embodies the heart and soul of this city.”

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana president Matt Schuffert said its mission of giving back to the community dates back to its infancy.

“Love all, serve all is one of our four mottos,” Schuffert said. “These words have been the guiding principle of all Hard Rock employees since 1971.”

Hard Rock’s donation will be paired with a matching grant program passed last year in Gary.

The bill, Indiana SB 434, makes available two $3M grants to the City of Gary for blight elimination within its Metro Transit Development District (TDD), primarily located around downtown Gary’s Broadway Corridor, in 2024 and 2025, respectively, if Gary brings $6M in matching funds.

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“This catalytic donation from Hard Rock marks a new chapter in Gary’s story, one where we begin to turn the page on blight and write our future,” Melton said in a news release. “A future in which Gary residents see real change and feel a renewed sense of pride in our downtown Broadway Corridor. With this $3M contribution, we are planting seeds of hope and growth for our downtown.”

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