Phase one of the Warsaw Technology Park began Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first phase of the development will feature a 63,000-square-foot shell building (capable of expansion to 125,000 square feet) along with three available shovel-ready, fiber-connected industrial building sites. The Tech Park is on U.S. 30 and Silveus Crossing. Warsaw City Council and Warsaw Redevelopment Commission members, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce officials and ambassadors, project developer Robinson Construction and co-developer G & G Hauling, city officials and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, former mayors Jeff Plank and Ernie Wiggins and State Rep. Curt Nisly attended. In his remarks, Thallemer said phase one of the tech park is a gratifying moment that needs to be celebrated, but there is a lot of work to be done to fill the space up. Thallemer thanked Plank for his vision and Wiggins for his leadership in the city approving the area as a Tax Increment Finance district. Thallemer said the building and planning departments did a good job on the project, starting with the annexation process, TIF process and certified tech park process. He also thanked the city council, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp., the Chamber, Ivy Tech and OrthoWorx for their support. “I can’t think of a better neighbor than Ivy Tech. The tech-training programs they are doing fit right in with this technology park and we’re thrilled with that,” Thallemer said. The Warsaw Technology Park was certified in 2012 by the state to support the attraction and growth of high-technology business. The Warsaw Technology Park is in a tax increment finance district that has supported the growth and expansion of current park tenants Winona PVD and Medtronic, according to a press release from the Chamber of Commerce. Those revenues also have supported infrastructure improvements for phase one of the current project including road, curbing, sidewalk and safety improvements to the park entrance, as well as utility expansion into the park. Sanitary and storm sewers, water service, enterprise grade fiber, and gas and electric utilities serve the park. Careful planning and a diligently negotiated development agreement have allowed for efficient use of TIF revenue to benefit the community as a whole and stimulate economic development, the Chamber press release states. Over the last four years, Thallemer has worked with the Warsaw Common Council, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission, and Building and Plan Department to create this new economic development opportunity for the Warsaw Community, the release states. Those efforts have led to the completion of the 40-acre phase one expansion that includes the shell building and seven shovel ready building sites. The lots can be configured to allow up to 250,000 square feet in manufacturing space and offer the flexibility for all types of manufacturing technologies as well as research and development activity, according to the Chamber release. Phase two, when completed, will offer another 70 acres that may be divided to suit individual client needs. The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission expects to complete phase two of the Technology Park within the next two to three years. In total, roughly 1.2 million square feet in future manufacturing and research and development space will be created in the park. The property is currently marketed by the Bradley Company. Workforce Development partners include OrthoWorx, Grace College, Ivy Tech, Warsaw Community Schools,and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
