The Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), in partnership with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and OrthoWorx, hosted a collaborative county-wide manufacturing roundtable Thursday.
The roundtable gathered around 30 Kosciusko County-based manufacturers for connection, idea sharing and problem solving. This was the first event of the roundtable series, and the meetings will continue every other month.
"What a great turnout for the inaugural gathering of this group! With a goal of offering a setting where our local business owners could gather and share more about their needs and talk about ways we can strengthen our local manufacturing ecosystem, we were able to get this started and also see new connections made and some great networking occur," said OrthoWorx CEO Bob Vitoux.
The idea to start the Kosciusko Manufacturing Roundtable series originated from feedback provided from a local business owner seeking opportunities to better connect and support small- to mid-size manufacturers, according to a news release from KEDCO.
In late spring, KEDCO, the Kosciusko Chamber and OrthoWorx brought together a small group of manufacturers to discuss their needs and explore whether a roundtable series could be a useful step in addressing challenges. From that discussion, planning began for the first roundtable.
"This is what collaboration is all about. We’re listening to better understand what our companies need, and we’re taking steps to help solve problems," said KEDCO CEO Peggy Friday.
Based on the feedback from the kick-off roundtable, KEDCO, the Chamber and OrthoWorx will use this input to shape the discussion topics for future roundtables. Some of the topics that emerged during the meeting included transportation and delivery logistics, hiring and retaining talent, childcare and more.
"What a great opportunity to collaborate to unite and support our local manufacturers," said Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Parker. "We’re working together to create a more prosperous and vibrant community, and this is a perfect example of how we can do that."
The next Kosciusko Manufacturing Roundtable will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10. If you’re a local manufacturing leader interested in joining these discussions, reach out to KEDCO at [email protected] or call 574-306-4119 to be added to the event contact list.
"We’re asking for help from participating employers to help spread the word and connect us to folks who would find value in being involved to make sure we don’t miss someone," said Friday. "This roundtable was created for our manufacturing companies, and they know best about who should be around that table."
KEDCO was formed in 1984 as Kosciusko Development Inc. to promote economic and community development throughout Kosciusko County. KEDCO is the economic development corporation serving Kosciusko County and all the municipalities therein. Their mission is to convene, build and show the community’s talent, ideas and capital. For more information, visit www.kosciuskoedc.com.
The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce was first established in 1901 as the "10,000 Club," which aimed to foster growth and development in Warsaw. The organization has grown and evolved into the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, a member-driven entity dedicated to promoting business throughout Kosciusko County. Today, the Chamber proudly represents nearly 700 members.
Formed in 2009 with initial funding from the Lilly Endowment through the Orthopedic Capital Foundation, OrthoWorx initiatives feature community-based strategic collaborations with the orthopedic industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the Warsaw region continues to reap the social and economic benefits that derive from its position at the Orthopedic Capital of the World®.