Cabela's track record for attracting development to its locations spurred competition between Hammond, which had the inside track, and Hobart, Portage and Crown Point, each of which wooed the retailer for its monetary benefits.

In several of Sydney, Neb.-based Cabela's 20-plus locations, including Dundee, Mich., its stores are one of its state's top tourist attractions. Areas surrounding Cabela's have become meccas for hotels, restaurants and other retail outlets. It has enlarged the job base at its locations through its hiring and the job opportunities provided by peripheral growth and development.

Locally, Cabela's purchase of Woodmar Country Club for $14 million in October 2005 put a new source of money into the pockets of the club's equity members and, thus the local economy, even if some of the funds may have been stashed in the club members' banks or brokerage accounts.

Since that time, about 40 contractors, mostly local firms that buy local products and pay local residents at union pay scales, were hired to build the 185,000-square-foot store. About 200 full-time and 200 part-time employees have been hired to staff it, with the majority of the workers hailing from Hammond and the local area.

Plus, there has been an announcement that a Splash Universe indoor water park will located on a section of its property once the project to build a levy along the Little Calumet River and lift the area out of the flood plain is completed. The levy project is being funded by the state as part of the incentive package to help attract the outdoor outfitter.