Kosciusko Development Inc. president Brian Redshaw commented on two newspaper articles recently written about Dana Corp. The company has systematically been closing and moving facilities out of the state. The Syracuse community has been particularly hard hit by the closings.

Redshaw, also the Syracuse town manager, presented the articles during the KDI executive board meeting Wednesday.

"There's nothing we can do about it," Redshaw said of the company's decisions. "They don't owe us an explanation."

He said another company has visited Syracuse, interested in the former Arrow building. If the Elkhart-based company moves to Kosciusko County, it would provide 110 jobs.

KDI executive director Joy McCarthy-Sessing discussed fund-raising, saying now is the time to approach the city and town councils for contributions. Mentone and Pierceton contribute $500 each; Leesburg, $125; Milford, $1,000; Winona Lake and North Webster $750; and Warsaw and Syracuse $1,500 each. The county contributes $35,000.

Sessing said she was set to appear before several councils seeking funds during May.

Redshaw suggested contributions based on population.

Chris Taelman suggested KDI seek contributions from utilities, businesses and industries. He said other economic entities set up funding campaigns every five years or so. The suggestion was approved and a committee to plan a long-term campaign will be established.

Sessing advised the board she attended the community meeting with Ivy Tech State College April 16. College officials outlined a 10-year strategy, which includes building a Warsaw facility. In the meantime Ivy Tech will relocate to the United Office Complex for the fall semester.

John Byrd, who sits on the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center board along with Sessing, said the center plans to support the biomedical industry through the development of research facilities. The orthopedic industry often goes out of state to access the most up-to-date research.

Byrd said Parkview Hospital plans to build an orthopedic hospital north of Fort Wayne.

Byrd also announced a conference June 4 in Indianapolis sponsored by the Indiana Health Industry Forum.

In other business, the board:

• Heard the Fort Wayne Women's Bureau seminar was a success.

• Heard a small business workshop will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Warsaw Community Public Library. Cost of materials is $20. The Small Business Development Center, KDI and the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event.

KDI also is hosting an Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corp. meeting June 4 from 7 to 8 a.m. at the chamber offices.

• Approved changes to the bylaws regarding annual audits.

The next KDI meeting is May 22 at noon. [[In-content Ad]]