Kosciusko Development Inc. and Chamber of Commerce president Joy McCarthy-Sessing reported Wednesday that KDI's first quarterly report for Community Development Action Grant will be due July 7.

KDI will receive approximately $10,000 in a Community Development Action Grant. Funding from the CDAG program, which is administered by the Community Development Division of the Indiana Department of Commerce, is awarded biannually.

"Kosciusko Development Inc. makes a significant difference in the growth of the area's economy and in the improvement of its quality of life," Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan said earlier. "This grant supports those efforts, and it will help enhance the service to the people of Kosciusko County. That is at the heart of what we do at Commerce, and we're pleased to be a partner in this organization's important work."

KDI will use the CDAG funds to continue to support the salary of the position of economic development coordinator for the organization. Monica Williams fills the position.

The CDAG program supports community-based development and redevelopment strategies. The state-funded grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on community and economic development. The maximum award for an organization serving one county is $50,000, with a two-to-one local match. For organizations serving multiple counties, the maximum award is $75,000, with a one-to-one local match.

Forty-seven organizations were awarded funds this round, totaling nearly $2 million in grants.

In other business:

• Williams recently toured Biomet, Zimmer and R.R. Donnelley & Sons.

"I plan on doing more tours to get to know manufacturers in our county," Williams said.

Williams also said she logged on the Internet to Indiana Insights for KDI, "which means we have our own password to get in.

"It's going to be a really efficient way of working," Williams said. "That's a way we can be in contact with inquiries and prospects."

The "way" Williams is referring to is KDI's new Web address, KDI-in.com

Williams and McCarthy-Sessing said KDI is working with Giant Toe Inc., Winona Ave., to establish this Web site. The site is currently under construction.

"I'm really confident with Giant Toe," Williams said.

She said Giant Toe promised to "get us on 10 of the major search engines and get us accepted."

McCarthy-Sessing said Mike Walton, Chamber of Commerce member, recommended Giant Toe to KDI.

• Board members also approved a financial report for April and May, a 1999 KDI audit (conducted by Dana L. Krull Inc.) and a wage survey. A wage survey was conducted by the Chamber of Commerce in 1996, which benefited KDI, and now KDI will conduct one that also will benefit the Chamber of Commerce. Cost is $1,545 for the wage survey. The executive committee recommended approval and KDI board members approved the survey Wednesday. McCarthy-Sessing said these surveys should be done more often.

• An Indiana Health Industry Forum Proposal also was approved by board members. The proposal will be done by Battel Institute, Ohio.

"They're a very well-known research organization," McCarthy-Sessing said.

Total cost will be $35,000. McCarthy-Sessing said part of the funds will be raised locally and the rest will come from KDI reserves.

• McCarthy-Sessing reported that Bill Reynolds, Sofamor Danek, said the new building is coming along. McCarthy-Sessing said they are a little behind schedule but still going at "lightning speed."

Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger and McCarthy-Sessing both said Danek may start moving some things into the new building around July 15.

"Water and sewer is (already) there," Noffsinger said.

• Board member Jim Tinkey said Brad Bishop gave a five- minute presentation to the county commissioners on town budget requests.

"In 2001, we will lose (approximately) $20,000 of income," Tinkey said.

Tinkey said they are asking for $50,000, an increase of $30,000 over last year's request.

"It was short and sweet," Tinkey said of Bishop's presentation. "We haven't heard a response yet."

• KDI made a 2001 budget request for $1,000 to the Winona Lake Town Council recently.

Councilman David Delp said Tuesday that the council gave KDI $500 last year. Delp said at the meeting he didn't understand why they were asking the funding to be doubled and he believed they should keep the amount at $500.

Delp said at the time of the meeting he was not sure of the details of last year's request.

McCarthy-Sessing said KDI did request $1,000 last year but $500 was cut.

The Winona Lake town council tabled the request Tuesday.

• Board member Max Courtney said a Hispanic movement is under way in Warsaw. The movement would help generate information to non-English speaking residents. Courtney said some non-English speaking residents are illegal aliens and are afraid to make themselves known for fear of being forced to leave the country. He also said illegal aliens do pay taxes, "so our community is benefiting." Courtney believes the movement will be positive or Warsaw.

"A lot of neat things are happening in this community," he said.

• Noffsinger said the Logan Street project is on its way.

"It is going to alleviate a lot of the congestion we have on the south side of town," Noffsinger said.

He said they hope to complete the project before school starts.

Noffsinger also said the recent brainstorming charrette concerning residential and commercial growth, held at the NYE Youth Cabin, went "very well."

Noffsinger said city, county and Winona Lake are going to "try to get our plan commissions together (and) within the next month (will be) meeting at each other's places." All three all pulling together for the benefit and growth of the county.

• McCarthy-Sessing and Williams attended an economic development meeting June 15 and 16 in Lafayette.

"That was a worthwhile summer conference," McCarthy-Sessing said.

• KDI's next board meeting is scheduled for noon July 26 in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room.

• KDI board members present at the meeting included: Dennis Beville, National City Bank; Lynn Collyer, Kosciusko REMC; Max Courtney, Mutual Federal Savings Bank; Roger Fisher, Sprint; Jeff Noffsinger, Warsaw; Brian Redshaw, Syracuse; Bob Sanders, Bodkin Abstract Co. Inc.; Don Strouse, Colbin Tool; Jim Tinkey, Mutual Federal Savings Bank; Julie VanDeWater, NIPSCO; Randy Vutech, Lake City Bank; Joy McCarthy-Sessing, KDI/Chamber of Commerce; and Frank Bush, Investors Realty. [[In-content Ad]]