Kosciusko Leadership Academy met Tuesday at Zimmer Building 5 to learn about “Planning For the Future of Kosciusko County”.
Those attending learned about economic development and planning concerns in Kosciusko County in the next decade.
Guest speakers were George Robertson, executive director of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation; Dan Richard, Kosciusko County planner; and Mark Dobson, president and CEO of the Warsaw-Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
Richard began by sharing the population history of Kosciusko County from 10,243 people in 1850 to 77,358 people in 2010. He informed students that “roads were originally built so farmers could get to their fields” and that Kosciusko County has the highest percentage of paved roads in the state.
Richard then covered pond and wind tower regulations as well as lake access ordinances. He cautioned that “zoning does not solve all problems.”
The KLA class was then quizzed on some geographic information system maps of well-known areas in Kosciusko County.
Robertson followed by explaining that KEDCO’s purpose is to both retain and expand existing business and industry while attracting new business investments.
Using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis, he said the strengths of the county were entrepreneurship, its location to an interstate highway system, and the midwestern values that include friendliness.
“We need to sell those values. Corporations are tired of conflict being a four letter word,” he said.
Weaknesses include a lack of shovel-ready land sites and shell buildings with the existence of a mature orthopedic industry being in the threat category.
“Mature industries tend to downsize, which includes outsourcing, off-shoring etc.,” he said.
Inventors, innovators and entreprneurs were pointed out as opportunities for the area.
Robertson concluded by mentioning the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, giving the example of 12,600 recent college graduates in electrical engineering for 30,000 available jobs, nationwide.
Dobson wrapped up the session by sharing the organizational structure of the chamber, its services and events, and a brief history of its 100 years in existence.
It has grown from a 10,000 Club in 1904 to an organization of more than 560 businesses.
He said its number one priority at this time is advocacy, being the “voice of business” and pointed out the annual Washington, D.C., fly-ins and the Indianapolis bus-ins to connect local business owners with their legislators.
Dobson then explained how the medical device tax is the biggest threat to the area with companies making plans in anticipation of the tax passing.
He ended by stating, “Warsaw-Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce can be a point of entry for those looking to start a business.”
The next meeting is March 27 and will cover the role of entrepreneurship in Kosciusko County. The session will focus on the commercial, cultural and religious heritage of Winona Lake with a walking tour, weather permitting.
