Franciscan Health, Tonn and blank planning michigan city medical office building at former marquette mall. Press release, Franciscan Health: Project supports healthcare ministry's regional approach to healthcare MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Franciscan Health, in partnership with Tonn and Blan...

Medical office planned at former JC penney. Posted October 16, 2026 12:30pm by Stan Maddux (Michigan City, IN) - Franciscan Health, in partnership with Tonn and Blank Construction, is planning a medical office building on a portion of the former Marquette Mall property. Franciscan Health plans to operate a 120,000-square-foot medical office building through the renovation of the former J.C. Penney store at the northwest corner of U.S. 421 and U.S. 20. The land is just 2.5 miles north of Franciscan Health Michigan City, which sits at U.S. 421 and Interstate 94. According to Franciscan Health officials, the building will house more than 45 physicians, cost-effective imaging, an urgent care and multi-specialty physician offices, including multiple physicians each specializing in internal medicine, orthopedics, family medicine, pediatrics, ENT/audiology and endocrinology/rheumatology. The space will also support resident ambulatory rotations. The multi-service medical office building supports Franciscan's regional approach to cost-effective healthcare and aligns with two other similar Ambulatory Care Centers with multiple healthcare services currently under construction in St. John and Valparaiso, officials said. "Meeting the needs of the patients we serve by locating services under one roof and making care more easily accessible supports our Franciscan values in action," said Stacey Leva, DO, president and CEO of Franciscan Health Michigan City Tonn and Blank Construction purchased the former Marquette Mall property in mid-2025. Representatives from Tonn and Blank plan to present the project to city officials and request building permits later this month. If approved, the project will be scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. Final plans for office relocations will be determined and shared with patients and staff closer to the opening of the building, officials said.

Franciscan Health Dyer adds OrderAhead food locker in partnership with Food Bank of NWI. October 15, 2026 Technology enhances partnership aimed at fighting Region food insecurity DYER, Ind. - Franciscan Health Dyer now has an OrderAhead food locker thanks to a partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and generous donations to the Franciscan Health Foundation. The OrderAhead food locker program was designed by the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for neighbors with chronic concerns about adequate food access. The lockers allow food-insecure individuals to place an order online for pickup at a scheduled time. "We are thankful to be able to further enhance our impactful partnership with the Food Bank with the addition of the food locker," Franciscan Health Foundation Executive Director Rick Peltier said. "We are grateful for the support of our donors who helped make it possible." The Dyer location is a 16-bay refrigerated locker outside of the hospital underneath the main entrance canopy on the Indiana/Illinois state line. It represents the seventh location in Lake County and the first in that quadrant, providing 24/7 access to nutritious food for residents in Indiana and Illinois. Franciscan's food insecurity programs are seeing unprecedented numbers of working families in need of support. The 24/7 access to the food locker provides added peace of mind for those families making difficult decisions about how to spend their limited financial resources. The OrderAhead locker is stocked with fresh produce, refrigerated proteins, whole grains and other healthy food options. Two of the bays are reserved for local first responders assisting individuals and families during Indiana Department of Child Services or veteran-related emergencies. "For years, Franciscan Health and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana have worked together to address food insecurity as a critical part of overall health," said Victor Garcia, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. "The new OrderAhead Locker in Dyer strengthens that partnership, making it easier for patients and community members to access nutritious food and reinforcing our belief that nutrition is essential to quality medical care." The Franciscan Health Foundation first partnered in 2021 with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to create the three-phase Food Insecurity Program to address food insecurity across the region. Phase 1 was the Mobile Markets, which allow participants to receive boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins and healthy grains via drive-through events across Northwest Indiana. Phase II was the Fresh Start Markets, healthy food markets operated by Franciscan's Community Health Improvement team which allow those in need to shop free of charge. In addition to supplying food, the Fresh Start Markets work to identify the underlying causes and health implications of food insecurity with education, nutrition and recipes. Phase III was the Food Rx and Produce Prescription Programs, which allow low-income individuals and their families - identified through the programs at the Fresh Start Markets, screenings and referrals - to receive additional, specific foods to meet their individual health needs. The OrderAhead locker is the next phase in the program and is designed to mirror the offerings of the Fresh Start Market food pantries. The locker can be stocked regularly throughout the week, with annual food investments projected to exceed $43,200. The unit and its inventory are funded entirely through the generosity of Franciscan Health Foundation donors, helping expand equitable access to healthy food while addressing food insecurity in Northwest Indiana and the surrounding Region. The OrderAhead locker is outside the main entrance of Franciscan Health Dyer, located at 24 Joliet St. For more information or to schedule a pickup, go to OrderAhead.org. Those interested in contributing to the Franciscan Health Foundation's Food Insecurity fund may do so online by choosing Northern Indiana and the Food Insecurity Fund from the drop-down menus at franciscanhealthfoundation.org or by calling (219) 661-3401. Fourth annual report finds attackers operating at machine speed, identity under pressure from AI agents and non-human accounts, and a growing share of attack traffic... HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. - Purdue University Northwest (PNW) and Ivy Tech Community College statewide are strengthening accessibility and affordability for college students pursuing hospitality... MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 8, 2026) - As Indiana prepares for the upcoming winter, Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) is encouraging customers to take... The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will hold a 21-day public comment period on an amendment to the 2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The... HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. - The Roberts Impact Lab at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will advance a regional economic development initiative that supports aspiring innovators... HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. - Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is inviting nominations for impactful university alumni to be recognized and inducted into the PNW Alumni...