Grants help get some of the dollars Kosciusko County residents pay in taxes back to the county.

Tuesday, the Kosciusko County commissioners learned of how approximately nearly $1.5 million in total grants may come back to the county and area.

Juan A. Manigault, president and CEO of Northern Indiana Workforce Investment Board, asked the commissioners for their approval and signatures for a $400,000 grant application from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Only workforce boards can apply for the grants. However, there are 16 workforce boards in the state, he said, and only nine will receive the grant monies.

The NIWI board represents several counties, including Kosciusko County. Those who already have approved the grant application include South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke, Mishawaka Mayor Robert Beutter, Elkhart Mayor David Miller, Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman, Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Plymouth Mayor Bonnie Yeazel, Elkhart County commissioner president Phil Neff, St. Joseph County commissioner Cynthia Bodle and NIWI board chairman Jack Isles.

If the board receives the $400,000 in grant money, Manigault said, there are six projects the board members all came to agreement on. The projects and the proposed amounts include: short-term skills training for companies in the Energize Indiana sectors, $200,000; short-term skills training for jobseekers and incumbent workers accessing services through Ivy Tech State College and Crossroads Academy, $60,000; licenses for JobWorks and Goodwill case managers to access Web-based Internet job openings in the Energize Indiana sectors, $25,000; community awareness activities in support of Work Keys implementation, $15,000; WorkOne Center staff support and coordination activities, $50,000; and to focus NIWI board strategic plan on Energize Indiana sectors for at-risk populations, $10,000. For grant administration, the proposal is $40,000.

Representing Kosciusko County on the Workforce Investment Board is Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Kosciusko Development Inc. president.

Avis Gunter, Kosciusko County southern district commissioner, said she will support the grant application on the condition that Kosciusko County sees some of the benefits come to the county.

"I assure you that it will happen," said Manigualt.

He said he will keep the commissioners updated.

Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock reported through various grants, the county may receive a total of approximately $780,000 in grants with no matching funds required. That does not include monies the county will be reimbursed for by the federal government, which will be approximately $200,000.

Aaron Rovenstine, Kosciusko County sheriff, also reported receiving a $4,200 grant to purchase a second speed board.

In another matter, Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson told the commissioners it was time to release the last payment - of approximately $356,000 - to Weigand Construction for the Justice Building expansion and renovation project. The commissioners approved.

Also, the commissioners:

• Approved a new contract with MedStat for county employee care.

• Approved to accept Shadow Lakes Estates, phase 1, into the county maintenance system.

• Approved the awarding of the annual bids for the county highway department as recommended by Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson.

Commissioners present Tuesday were Gunter and Ron Truex, middle district commissioner. Not present was Brad Jackson, northern district commissioner. The next meeting is 9 a.m. Dec. 2 in the county courthouse, Warsaw. [[In-content Ad]]