Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Warsaw/Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce has received a Community Development Action Grant for $35,000 from the state.
The money will be used to hire an economic development person. The new employee will help gather information about how development should be directed for the future.
The hours will be less than full-time with the grant being renewable for as long as three years.
The remaining money will be used for creating a secretarial position.
Larry Teghtmeyer, president of Kosciusko Development Inc., said he was "uncomfortable with the situation" in Kosciusko County, referring to the high number of layoffs and forced retirements.
Teghtmeyer said the purpose of KDI was to educate the county on economic development.
Last Wednesday, KDI and several county and city officials attended a presentation by Baker & Daniels' Richard L. Hill and Randolph R. Rompola.
The presentation focused on the current economic situation in Kosciusko County. The speakers stressed the importance of having the proper sites ready for development by having water, sewer and improved roads already on location.
The speakers also discussed possible ways of financing the programs, including tax increment financing (TIF) and the county economic development income tax (CEDIT).
Teghtmeyer said KDI was not supporting either TIF or CEDIT but wanted to be sure all of the information was given out.
The next monthly KDI meeting will be in Syracuse at the Town Hall, June 22, at 7:30 p.m.
