DYER | Dyer officials are hoping for a prosperous new year but realize the local economy may tie their hands.

In particular, town leaders would like to see development along the Calumet Avenue corridor, Town Council President Robert Rybicki said.

"We've got a lot of vacant land, and we'd got to do what we can to attract new businesses," he said.

However, a lot of that does depend on what happens with the economy next year, he said.

One bright spot along Calumet will be the opening of Texas Roadhouse, which should happen by the end of February, Rybicki said.

He would like to see plans for a Main Street expansion get a financial boost from the economic stimulus package that President-elect Barack Obama is proposing for shovel-ready projects in 2009.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Panning Commission recently has discussed what the infrastructure money could mean for the region. Rybicki is the town's liaison to NIRPC.

Main Street currently dead-ends at Sheffield Avenue, and there was talk last year of possibly extending it through to Illinois.

"Illinois would have to get involved (in the expansion)," Rybicki said. "Some people don't like the idea, but others do. I think it'd been a good thing."

The Sheffield Avenue corridor plan also is high on the list of priorities for town officials this year.

Consultant Tarik El-Naggar first unveiled the plan at last month's Redevelopment Commission meeting.

"We're going to bring it to the Plan Commission," said Rybicki, who sat in on the meeting. "The response (so far) has been very good."

One of Town Manager Joe Neeb's goals this year is to improve communication with residents. His office already has introduced a newsletter, and there will be a neighborhood discussion meeting Jan. 13 for residents on the northeast end of town.