Local Economic Groups Look To Future
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
The Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission and Kosciusko Development Inc. are two groups working separately and in partnership to advance the prospects for continued growth in the county.
The Redevelopment Commission is currently working on two major efforts - a consolidation of economic studies completed in the county and taking steps toward planning the development of the "Western Corridor."[[In-content Ad]]Redevelopment Commission member Bruce Woodward said the commission is working to gather data from economic studies of the county for use in a broad-based economic plan for the county.
In establishing the plan, Woodward said, the Redevelopment Commission will identify sites in the county where growth is expected. He said the overall plan will include plans for transportation and infrastructure in the county. KDI is compiling the data from previous studies for the Redevelopment Commission to use.
When completed, the plan will provide guidelines to help focus the efforts of the Redevelopment Commission and others working to bring new business and employment opportunities to Kosciusko County.
One of the areas of expected growth is what has become known as the Western Corridor, just to the west of Warsaw. The area covers about 1,600 acres 1/2 mile north and south of U.S. 30 from Fox Farm Road west to CR 350W. The county zoned the land industrial in 1987.
The redevelopment commission is trying to develop a plan for establishing sites for new industrial businesses to locate in the western corridor. Sewer and water lines play a major role in attracting new industrial expansion to the area. For more than a year, the redevelopment commission has been investigating the possibility of expanding utilities along the major roads to the area in order to make it easier for any new development to be connected to the utilities.
Woodward and other members of the Redevelopment Commission are currently working to secure easements necessary to expand infrastructure in the area.
"We're meeting with property owners and letting them know of our intentions," he said.
Woodward said there at least two things that make the Western Corridor and sites like it important - if properly prepared, they provide an attraction for new businesses interested in locating in the county and they provide prime space for existing local businesses to expand into.
"One of the major growth areas in our county has been small businesses growing and expanding in the county," Woodward said.
He said if the county has properties with good access to the utilities industries need, businesses have incentive to stay here when they are ready to expand.
Though not many businesses are moving forward with expansions in the current economy, Woodward said this is the time to prepare.
"When times are tough is the best time to plan for the future," Woodward said.
He said, rather than slowing, the recent economic downturn has intensified the Redevelopment Commission's efforts.
"We've actually become more serious," said Woodward. "We're picking up the pace because this is the perfect time to be planning for the future."
Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of KDI, said for her group, one of the keys to planning for the future during a recession is working to keep local businesses in Kosciusko County. When businesses stay, they keep jobs here.
"Retention is very important for us," she said. "And, if they expand, that they do it here."
To help encourage businesses to remain and expand in the county, KDI provides assistance in pursuing local tax abatements, a low-interest revolving loan program, training programs and information.
KDI also works to attract new businesses to the area through marketing the county's assets, helping prospective businesses identify and secure real estate that is affordable and meets the business' needs and working as a liaison with local government to pursue tax abatements. McCarthy-Sessing said KDI concentrates on attracting manufacturing companies because manufacturing accounts for the majority of the jobs in Kosciusko County.
According to statsindiana.edu, a statewide study by the Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelly School of Business, manufacturing accounts for 55.3 percent of employment in the county with average earnings per job of $67,997.
Both McCarthy-Sessing and Woodward said there are things county residents can do to encourage economic growth in the county even in a tough economy.
McCarthy-Sessing said supporting local businesses through the economic downturn is important.
"I think buying locally is maybe a little more important than it used to be," she said.
Woodward said county residents' new business ideas are one of the county's valuable assets.
"When times are tough, we have to look to other places for income," said Woodward. "It's time to bring out the ideas we've always thought about. Use innovation. Use these ideas to make new products."
The Kosciusko Redevelopment Commission and Kosciusko Development Inc. are two groups working separately and in partnership to advance the prospects for continued growth in the county.
The Redevelopment Commission is currently working on two major efforts - a consolidation of economic studies completed in the county and taking steps toward planning the development of the "Western Corridor."[[In-content Ad]]Redevelopment Commission member Bruce Woodward said the commission is working to gather data from economic studies of the county for use in a broad-based economic plan for the county.
In establishing the plan, Woodward said, the Redevelopment Commission will identify sites in the county where growth is expected. He said the overall plan will include plans for transportation and infrastructure in the county. KDI is compiling the data from previous studies for the Redevelopment Commission to use.
When completed, the plan will provide guidelines to help focus the efforts of the Redevelopment Commission and others working to bring new business and employment opportunities to Kosciusko County.
One of the areas of expected growth is what has become known as the Western Corridor, just to the west of Warsaw. The area covers about 1,600 acres 1/2 mile north and south of U.S. 30 from Fox Farm Road west to CR 350W. The county zoned the land industrial in 1987.
The redevelopment commission is trying to develop a plan for establishing sites for new industrial businesses to locate in the western corridor. Sewer and water lines play a major role in attracting new industrial expansion to the area. For more than a year, the redevelopment commission has been investigating the possibility of expanding utilities along the major roads to the area in order to make it easier for any new development to be connected to the utilities.
Woodward and other members of the Redevelopment Commission are currently working to secure easements necessary to expand infrastructure in the area.
"We're meeting with property owners and letting them know of our intentions," he said.
Woodward said there at least two things that make the Western Corridor and sites like it important - if properly prepared, they provide an attraction for new businesses interested in locating in the county and they provide prime space for existing local businesses to expand into.
"One of the major growth areas in our county has been small businesses growing and expanding in the county," Woodward said.
He said if the county has properties with good access to the utilities industries need, businesses have incentive to stay here when they are ready to expand.
Though not many businesses are moving forward with expansions in the current economy, Woodward said this is the time to prepare.
"When times are tough is the best time to plan for the future," Woodward said.
He said, rather than slowing, the recent economic downturn has intensified the Redevelopment Commission's efforts.
"We've actually become more serious," said Woodward. "We're picking up the pace because this is the perfect time to be planning for the future."
Joy McCarthy-Sessing, president of KDI, said for her group, one of the keys to planning for the future during a recession is working to keep local businesses in Kosciusko County. When businesses stay, they keep jobs here.
"Retention is very important for us," she said. "And, if they expand, that they do it here."
To help encourage businesses to remain and expand in the county, KDI provides assistance in pursuing local tax abatements, a low-interest revolving loan program, training programs and information.
KDI also works to attract new businesses to the area through marketing the county's assets, helping prospective businesses identify and secure real estate that is affordable and meets the business' needs and working as a liaison with local government to pursue tax abatements. McCarthy-Sessing said KDI concentrates on attracting manufacturing companies because manufacturing accounts for the majority of the jobs in Kosciusko County.
According to statsindiana.edu, a statewide study by the Indiana Business Research Center at the Indiana University Kelly School of Business, manufacturing accounts for 55.3 percent of employment in the county with average earnings per job of $67,997.
Both McCarthy-Sessing and Woodward said there are things county residents can do to encourage economic growth in the county even in a tough economy.
McCarthy-Sessing said supporting local businesses through the economic downturn is important.
"I think buying locally is maybe a little more important than it used to be," she said.
Woodward said county residents' new business ideas are one of the county's valuable assets.
"When times are tough, we have to look to other places for income," said Woodward. "It's time to bring out the ideas we've always thought about. Use innovation. Use these ideas to make new products."
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