Robertson Addresses Redevelopment Panel

March 9, 2018 at 4:45 p.m.


Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director George Robertson spoke to the county’s redevelopment commission at its quarterly meeting Thursday in Warsaw.

Robertson told the commissioners that Site Selection magazine rated the top 100 “Micropolitian” areas for facilities development. A micropolitian is a county with at least one urban core and a population between 10,000 and 50,000. Warsaw tied with Auburn, Marion and New Castle for 41st on the list.

“The interesting thing is that of the six small cities in Indiana that made this list, three of them are in northeastern Indiana,” said Robertson. “That’s the good news.”

The other Indiana cities included in the top 100 list were Angola (tied for 10th) and Wabash (tied for 64th).

Robertson cited a study by the Indiana University School of Business showing Kosciusko County’s population will grow by 7 to 8 percent, and the median age will be in the 40-year-old range.

“That’s pretty good, because many of our counties in Indiana, particularly rural counties, have aging populations,” Robertson said. ”They’re losing lots of young people.”

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Robertson also said the county continues to have a shortage of machinists, and that women are being recruited to undergo training for those jobs. He showed a chart that said men are getting the majority of certifications in welding, HVAC, automotive and electrical fields, while women get most of the certifications for cosmetology, medical and dental assistants and child care providers, all on the low end of the pay scale.

“Human resource departments tell us women make better machinists than men,” Robertson said. “Women have better fine motor skills, and they multi-task better. Right now a third of our students in machinist classes are women.”

He added that state aid is being directed toward training for better-paying jobs and away from low-demand, low-paying careers.

The only other items of business for the commission was to approve its January meeting minutes and swear in new member David Mayer.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 14 at the county courthouse.

Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director George Robertson spoke to the county’s redevelopment commission at its quarterly meeting Thursday in Warsaw.

Robertson told the commissioners that Site Selection magazine rated the top 100 “Micropolitian” areas for facilities development. A micropolitian is a county with at least one urban core and a population between 10,000 and 50,000. Warsaw tied with Auburn, Marion and New Castle for 41st on the list.

“The interesting thing is that of the six small cities in Indiana that made this list, three of them are in northeastern Indiana,” said Robertson. “That’s the good news.”

The other Indiana cities included in the top 100 list were Angola (tied for 10th) and Wabash (tied for 64th).

Robertson cited a study by the Indiana University School of Business showing Kosciusko County’s population will grow by 7 to 8 percent, and the median age will be in the 40-year-old range.

“That’s pretty good, because many of our counties in Indiana, particularly rural counties, have aging populations,” Robertson said. ”They’re losing lots of young people.”

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Robertson also said the county continues to have a shortage of machinists, and that women are being recruited to undergo training for those jobs. He showed a chart that said men are getting the majority of certifications in welding, HVAC, automotive and electrical fields, while women get most of the certifications for cosmetology, medical and dental assistants and child care providers, all on the low end of the pay scale.

“Human resource departments tell us women make better machinists than men,” Robertson said. “Women have better fine motor skills, and they multi-task better. Right now a third of our students in machinist classes are women.”

He added that state aid is being directed toward training for better-paying jobs and away from low-demand, low-paying careers.

The only other items of business for the commission was to approve its January meeting minutes and swear in new member David Mayer.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. June 14 at the county courthouse.
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