Last spring, the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) relocated its offices in downtown Warsaw to the former Giverny Fitness Studio at 207 S. Buffalo St. With a mission to convene, build and show Kosciusko County’s talent, ideas and capital, and with a focus on initiatives to advance entrepreneurship, housing development and talent recruitment, KEDCO began building within the walls of the new space to help move its mission forward. In the past six months, KEDCO went through its own startup journey in planning and building the KEDCO Downtown Business Studio.
The KEDCO Downtown Business Studio provides a jumping-off point for entrepreneurs by offering a front-door space, and support and connection to resources as they launch and grow their businesses. The space includes The Market, located on the first floor; a membership-based coworking space called The Workspace on the second floor, which is ideal for entrepreneurs, remote workers or road warriors seeking a K-County office location; and the KEDCO offices located on the third floor.
“The Downtown Business Studio offers more support to entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Kosciusko County,” said KEDCO CEO Alan Tio. “With offerings like The Market and The Workspace, along with KEDCO and some of our partners onsite as resources, we seek to create community within the space, strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem and remove some of the uncertainty of starting and growing a business.”
The Market is a pop-up retail space featuring a rotating list of curated local vendors. The space provides a front-door for the community to start and grow retail business ventures, create and deepen connections and encourages residents and visitors to shop small in downtown Warsaw.
“It’s an ideal place to test drive a business, for newly established business owners who perhaps aren’t ready to invest in their own storefront, and for retail business owners from elsewhere who do not yet have a downtown Warsaw presence,” said Tio.
The Market will begin with at least seven vendors and will feature unique home good items, an assortment of artistic and handmade pieces such as functional ceramics, hand lettered artwork and leather goods, as well as women’s boutique-style clothing, locally roasted coffee beans and more.
The Market will rotate vendor space periodically in order to showcase a variety of local goods and highlight local businesses from throughout K-County. If you’re interested in participating as a vendor visit www.kosciuskoedc.com/the-market for more information and the on-line application.
Local residents and small business owners Laura Sanders (Laurel Pottery) and Melanie Woodruff (Mod & Glory) recently joined the KEDCO team to help manage The Market. Sanders and Woodruff will help with day-to-day operations for The Market.
Mark your calendars! The Market will open its doors for business on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Initial hours of operation will include Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended days and hours during the holiday season. For more updates and happenings, connect with The Market via Facebook and Instagram @themarket.kedco.
Learn more about KEDCO and how the organization is making an impact in Kosciusko County by connecting on Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram @kosciuskoedc.