KEDCO: New Projects, 850 New Jobs In 2015
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation has released its annual report for 2015 and things are looking up.
According to the report, Kosciusko County saw 11 projects that brought in 850 new jobs and an average wage of $18.26 per hour. These projects included three new employers and 11 expansions to existing workplaces and are expected to bring $67.3 million in new capital investment to the county.
KEDCO reported that when it began in 2010, the county’s unemployment rate was in the double digits. In contrast, the unemployment rate for 2015 was down to between 3.5 and 4.2 percent.
Committees submitted their various reports pertaining to accomplishments from 2015.
The business retention committee outlined the aforementioned business and job growth, adding that, for this year, some goals include things like continuation of workforce development, continued support of the joint machining and joint health careers advisory groups for Ivy Tech, maintaining contact with companies, conducting seminars for local employers. The committee also hopes to establish a joint Ivy Tech-Warsaw Area Career Center welding advisory group.
US 30 upgrades are priority for the infrastructure committee, as well as SR 15-to-CR 17 limited access. Working on some of these priority projects has included meetings with Build Indiana, Indiana Conexus for transportation programs and the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation and American Water pertaining to the city water system.
The marketing committee made the KEDCO website a priority, reviewing ways to link it with the Warsaw city website and make it more mobile-friendly. They also developed a marketing brochure, hired a realtor and developed a joint marketing plan for the city shell building.
The small business entrepreneurship committee reported a “rebuilding year” for the Small Business Development Corporation. The committee works closely with SBDC for various programs and workshops. They also brought the SCORE business counseling program to the area.
The committee also reported working closely with Grace College. The committee heard from programs like the Young Entrepreneurship Academy and OrthoWorx.
Each committee also discussed various goals for 2016, which included plans to further attract new business to Kosciusko County and continue the above-mentioned programs. KEDCO as a whole announced several goals, including increased collaboration with educational and training facilities like schools and colleges; increase career-oriented programs at a K-12 level; continue reaching out to the unemployed through training; and create a “pipeline” for in-demand, skilled-labor jobs.
The full report, including details on each committee’s reports, can be viewed here.