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After years of local government reaching out for federal funding, the roles and goals have been somewhat reversed.
These days, the federal government, acting with fewer dollars, is offering more advice and insight.
"With the money pit pretty much dried up, we're having to dig a little deeper to find solutions," said Bill Dull, a staffer from U.S. Sen. Dan Coats' office.
On Wednesday at Center Lake Pavilion, staffers with Coats and Sen. Richard Lugar met with 50 community leaders and began digging for answers.
First, they had to uncover the problems.
The noon-time session included an array of bankers, social service workers and officials representing Kosciusko County and the city of Warsaw.
After a brief review of the program, participants were divided into groups focusing on economic development, housing, infrastructure, education and social services.
"The input and exchange can be useful," said county commissioner Eddie Creighton, who said he arrived at the meeting unsure of what to expect.
Creighton and others in most groups were quizzed about their greatest local concerns.
The discussion on economic development pointed out Kosciusko County's unique low unemployment makes it difficult to attract a company needing several hundred employees.
"We have more jobs than we have people," said Creighton.
Most people said their greatest concern is job training and retention. Several people complained about the ongoing "brain drain," a phenomenon in which local college graduates leave the area - and often the state - to start careers.
Those discussing social services said the most pressing problems they see can't be solved with simple monetary solutions. Youth violence and the breakdown of family units were cited as the greatest problems they face.
Warsaw Airport manager Lance Ropte, who sat in on the discussion on public works projects, said he was able to voice concern about federal guidelines used in prioritizing airport improvement projects.
He said he left the meeting feeling good about the discussions.
"They took a lot of notes and said they'd get back with me shortly," Ropte said.
"They appeared to be very knowledgeable about everything," he said.
Dull said they've noticed that often just bringing the local players together to network can achieve some results. "Oftentimes, our people just sit back and let the exchange of ideas and information flow freely."
"That's one of the biggest surprises and biggest assets," Dull said.
The two senators began the local program about half a year ago.
The cooperation between Lugar and Coats is rare in the U.S. Senate. Missouri is the only other state in which its senators share joint offices.
Dull fell short of saying the tandem voice of two senators carries more weight in seeking bureaucratic answers, but said it is more helpful compared to other states where senators of the same party often compete for attention or credit in accomplishing projects.
