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They've pointed themselves in a certain direction and have their work cut out for them.
Recommendations of the Biomedical Industry report have the Kosciusko Development Inc. board of directors ready to roll up their sleeves.
Given last week in Westminster Hall, the report emphasized strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to local industry.
Issues the board discussed Wednesday were the perceived lack of communication between independent companies and the report's advice to develop an industry-geared academy.
Board member Max Courtney advised fellow members to immediately begin developing committees.
Board president Randy Vetch said he'd rather wait until board members from biomedical industry were available to give input.
He said John Byrd of Othy and Brad Bishop of Zimmer were attending a conference in California this week.
It was noted that Byrd is the new president of the Indiana Health Industry Forum.
KDI Executive Director Joy McCarthy-Sessing said she was excited about the report and she would like to see the community develop a high-tech image.
The next KDI meeting is expected to last two to three hours to begin work on the report's recommendations.
McCarthy-Sessing said the lowest director-officer liability insurance premium bid came from Beauchamp & McSpadden insurance. The $1 million limit liability policy costs $1,035 per year and includes defense coverage with a deductible of $2,500 per claim.
The item was tabled until the March meeting due to a lack of a quorum.
McCarthy-Sessing also said another round of applications for Community Development Action Grants through the Indiana Department of Commerce are available.
The last grant paid for the Battelle Memorial Institute's Biomedical Industry Report.
In other business the board:
• Received the Warsaw & Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce's magazine-style image book, promoting the area.
The glossy information booklet features information and photographs about businesses, events and places in the county.
• Heard from economic development coordinator Monica Williams regarding a week-long economic development conference she attended at Ball State University.
Williams also said aerial photographs of various sites will soon be available and placed on the Internet, courtesy of Kosciusko County REMC.
• Was reminded of the meeting with Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard at 10 a.m. on March 7 in the chamber offices.
Richard is interested in developing a regional economic development area.
The next meeting will be March 28 at noon in the chamber conference room.
KDI board members present Thursday were: Craig Allebach, Dennis Beville, Jim Caskey, Max Courtney, Roger Fisher, Jeff Noffsinger, Brian Redshaw, Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Chris Taelman, Larry Teghtmeyer, Jim Tinkey and Randy Vutech.
Also members are Brad Bishop, Frank Bush, John Byrd, Lynn Collyer, Ron Truex, Marsha Eikenberry, Hal Gurkin, Dennis Hively, Will Linnemeier, Wayne Luchenbill, Bob Sanders, Charlie Smith, Don Strouse and Dallas Winchester, who were absent.
