Winona Powder Looking To Expand
ETNA GREEN — Brian Bailey, president of Winona Powder Coating, was present at Etna Green’s monthly council meeting, June 13, to talk about the possibility of expanding into a new business with some new prospective investors. The Etna Green Winona Powder plant opened about four years ago.
“We are currently looking to find additional space, both in Etna Green and in northern Indiana,” said Bailey, with potential to build on the northwest side of their current property. The new building is anticipated to be 250,000 square feet and will bring the opportunity to bring in several new manufacturing lines. The product: vapor retarder.
Bailey’s main goal in attending the meeting, alongside Kosciusko County Economic Development CEO George Robertson, was to gauge Etna Green’s support in the project before Bailey takes it to county council.
While Bailey stated he would be content simply with Etna Green’s moral support, he did ask for the upgrades of CR 300N and CR 950W on the east side of the property. By upgrading these roads, Bailey hopes to keep the truck traffic out of the city center of Etna Green.
Bailey did state the low-uneployment in the area, Kosciusko and Elkhart counties, is a potential issue the company could face. Bailey also stated that the facility has not had “the best of luck” with Indiana Municipal Power, stating that it’s believed the issue is the facility sits “at the end of the line.”
Robertson told the board that he is working with the county to recruit workers into the area, and furthermore to provide more housing in the $120-180k range to attract and keep a young workforce.
If the project moves forward, the ground breaking would not be until 2018 at the earliest. Bailey doesn’t plan on commissioning a line until the second quarter of next year.
The council was excited for the potential upgrade
In other business:
- Eileen Hall presented an additional appropriation of funds for $19,000, resolution 2017-06, that was approved by the council.
- Attorney Jay Rigdon presented an updated town code, resolution 2107-07, that now includes that payment of parking fees during town employee business travel.
- Garry Baker was present on behalf of John Klinefelter to look into restoring the town’s caboose at Heritage Park. Council gave permission for Klinefelter to access the caboose to assess the work needed. Klinefelter will then need to present his work plan to the board before starting.