Grant Gives $7M To Establish Ortho Initiative
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
That will include funding for the establishment of OrthoWorx, a Warsaw-based industry, community and education initiative.
OrthWorx's goal is to advance and support growth and innovation in the orthopedic industry.
The idea for OrthoWorx came out of a report from BioCrossroads that was released earlier this month. The report details what the area can do to increase its strength as an orthopedics leader.
N. Clay Robbins, president of the Lilly Endowment, was on hand to present the grant.
"I'm very enthused about the potential of this initiative," said Robbins Wednesday morning at a press conference at Grace College's Orthopaedic Capital Center. "We are pleased about the plan and framework that has been developed."
Robbins said this initiative compliments similar initiatives for different industries in the Columbus and Fort Wayne areas.
"We see great promise in OrthoWorx," said Robbins.
Cheryl Blanchard, chief scientific officer for Zimmer, spoke of how the initiative can help bring people to the area to work and live.
"The people we try to recruit typically have a choice on where they want to live," said Blanchard. "We see an opportunity to come together as an industry for a common cause."
Toby Buck, president and CEO of Paragon Medical, said he believes this grant will allow substantial things to get done.
One area the report talks about is bringing things to the area that can entice potential residents.
Buck spoke to what he believes is a misperception that there is no culture in the area and the prevailing perception that there is nothing to do.
"There's plenty of culture in this area," said Buck. "You want to go to a Broadway show, you're on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in two hours. You want to go to a Colts game, you're in the parking lot in just over two hours. There are all the lakes in the community. There's the Wagon Wheel Theatre and what they're doing here at Grace College."
Buck pointed to Dane Miller's contribution to revitalize Winona Lake and the growth of Ivy Tech and their plans to build a new campus as things that have already been done to fulfill some of the things the BioCrossroads report is talking about.
"We have a lot of things to offer here. We're going to use all our resources to make it better," said Buck. "And I think you got the people here to get it done."
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins was on hand at Wednesday morning's press conference.
Wiggins said the city is limited to things like abatements and allowing relocations of roads to help industry. But Wiggins said he and his staff are looking for other ways to help, whether it be in improving and beautifying the downtown area or making improvements to the airport.
The articles of incorporation have already been filed with the Secretary of State, and organizational meetings are expected to start soon, according to Suzie Light, executive director of the KCCF.
The community foundation will also create the Orthopedic Capital Foundation, which will help fund educational and cultural ventures.
"I think we'll get on about it right quick," said Buck.
The grant will extend over three years.
Light said this initiative will not hamper organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or Kosciusko Development Inc. but "work in harmony" with those organizations.
Many of the speakers at Wednesday morning's meeting credited the efforts of Grace College President Ron Manahan.
Manahan said he was challenged at a dinner in 2000 by Dr. Mary Walshok. Walshok, a professor of sociology at University of California-San Diego, helped set up roundtable discussions in 2008 as part of BioCrossroads research on its report.
"She asked me what I was doing to help the community," said Manahan. "That really became a focus for me."[[In-content Ad]]The initial board of directors for OrthoWorx is as follows: Blanchard, Buck, Light, Manahan; David Floyd, president, DePuy Inc.; Jon Serbousek, president, Biomet Orthopedics Inc.; David Findlay, chief financial officer and executive vice president of administration, Lake City Bank; and David Johnson, president, BioCrossroads.
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That will include funding for the establishment of OrthoWorx, a Warsaw-based industry, community and education initiative.
OrthWorx's goal is to advance and support growth and innovation in the orthopedic industry.
The idea for OrthoWorx came out of a report from BioCrossroads that was released earlier this month. The report details what the area can do to increase its strength as an orthopedics leader.
N. Clay Robbins, president of the Lilly Endowment, was on hand to present the grant.
"I'm very enthused about the potential of this initiative," said Robbins Wednesday morning at a press conference at Grace College's Orthopaedic Capital Center. "We are pleased about the plan and framework that has been developed."
Robbins said this initiative compliments similar initiatives for different industries in the Columbus and Fort Wayne areas.
"We see great promise in OrthoWorx," said Robbins.
Cheryl Blanchard, chief scientific officer for Zimmer, spoke of how the initiative can help bring people to the area to work and live.
"The people we try to recruit typically have a choice on where they want to live," said Blanchard. "We see an opportunity to come together as an industry for a common cause."
Toby Buck, president and CEO of Paragon Medical, said he believes this grant will allow substantial things to get done.
One area the report talks about is bringing things to the area that can entice potential residents.
Buck spoke to what he believes is a misperception that there is no culture in the area and the prevailing perception that there is nothing to do.
"There's plenty of culture in this area," said Buck. "You want to go to a Broadway show, you're on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in two hours. You want to go to a Colts game, you're in the parking lot in just over two hours. There are all the lakes in the community. There's the Wagon Wheel Theatre and what they're doing here at Grace College."
Buck pointed to Dane Miller's contribution to revitalize Winona Lake and the growth of Ivy Tech and their plans to build a new campus as things that have already been done to fulfill some of the things the BioCrossroads report is talking about.
"We have a lot of things to offer here. We're going to use all our resources to make it better," said Buck. "And I think you got the people here to get it done."
Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins was on hand at Wednesday morning's press conference.
Wiggins said the city is limited to things like abatements and allowing relocations of roads to help industry. But Wiggins said he and his staff are looking for other ways to help, whether it be in improving and beautifying the downtown area or making improvements to the airport.
The articles of incorporation have already been filed with the Secretary of State, and organizational meetings are expected to start soon, according to Suzie Light, executive director of the KCCF.
The community foundation will also create the Orthopedic Capital Foundation, which will help fund educational and cultural ventures.
"I think we'll get on about it right quick," said Buck.
The grant will extend over three years.
Light said this initiative will not hamper organizations like the Chamber of Commerce or Kosciusko Development Inc. but "work in harmony" with those organizations.
Many of the speakers at Wednesday morning's meeting credited the efforts of Grace College President Ron Manahan.
Manahan said he was challenged at a dinner in 2000 by Dr. Mary Walshok. Walshok, a professor of sociology at University of California-San Diego, helped set up roundtable discussions in 2008 as part of BioCrossroads research on its report.
"She asked me what I was doing to help the community," said Manahan. "That really became a focus for me."[[In-content Ad]]The initial board of directors for OrthoWorx is as follows: Blanchard, Buck, Light, Manahan; David Floyd, president, DePuy Inc.; Jon Serbousek, president, Biomet Orthopedics Inc.; David Findlay, chief financial officer and executive vice president of administration, Lake City Bank; and David Johnson, president, BioCrossroads.
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