News Release
SYRACUSE — The Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration on August 28at the Oakwood Event Center at Oakwood Resort in Syracuse.
This event recognized the accomplishments of individuals and business leaders for their contributions to the local community. Nearly 460 elected officials, community stakeholders, and honored guests attended the sold-out event.
KEDCO CEO, Peggy Friday, opened the evening with a warm welcome, as Grace College Executive Director of the Catalyst Corridor, Dr. Emiko Kreklou, offered an invocation for dinner.
“Tonight, we recognize more than just another year of economic development; it is a celebration of the collaboration, innovation, and dedication that has propelled our community to unprecedented heights,” said KEDCO CEO Peggy Friday.
“This event brings together an impressive group of community leaders, who despite our diverse backgrounds, are united by a common perspective; a core of commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous economy for all”, she added.
Friday shared key updates from the organization, noting the shared vision, dedication, and collaborative spirit that has driven economic development through business attraction, retention, attainable housing, support for entrepreneurs, innovation, workforce development, talent attraction, advanced manufacturing, and marketing on a global stage.
Over 2,000 jobs are being created through business attraction and retention efforts with Slate Auto and Autocam Medical. Attainable housing efforts in small towns are occurring. She spoke of the human impact of economic development – families building a better future, workers gaining new skills, and a community strengthened by opportunity.
Keynote Speaker Chris Barman, CEO of Michigan-based Slate Auto, highlighted the journey of the EV-startup throughout the site selection process with several competing states and its involvement with KEDCO. Barman noted how important confidentiality was while Project Racer, later known as Slate Auto, was in stealth mode, not sharing their identity.
“We knew we were going to be successful at the Warsaw site because it met a lot of our needs for producing our vehicle. We knew it would be very successful because of the partnership between Kosciusko County and KEDCO”, Barman said.
Barman noted it is estimated the company will add $125 million through economic development to the county once fully operational and contribute some $39 billion to the state economy over time.
The Blank Slate is an affordable, safe, reliable and radically customizable EV vehicle that will be built in Kosciusko County, a special community with roots in manufacturing and a strong desire for revitalization. Each vehicle will be built the same with no paint or options, designed to be either a two-passenger truck or a five-passenger SUV customized, accessorized and wrapped by the customer after it leaves the retooled factory in Warsaw. A Blank Slate that was converted to an SUV and wrapped in blue and white with the Indiana state flag was on display outside Oakwood. A colorful sticker in the rear window simply said Warsaw.
The event honored the late Mike Long, Kosciusko Councilman and Chairman of the County’s Tax Abatement Committee by sharing a brief video clip of Long providing a letter of incentive to Slate at their second site visit to the plant. Long was later appointed to the KEDCO Board of Directors by the county shortly before his passing.
KEDCO concluded the evening with its recognition program by announcing the 2025 award winners in several distinguished categories:
- Rising Leader: Ryan Christner, OrthoWorx; Thomas Holton, Priority Medical; Abigail Koorey, Cable Bullet; and Shanda Scheeren, Blue Barn Berry Farm
- Business Impact: Parkview Health; Share Capital, LLC; and Warsaw Chemical
- Community Impact Award: City of Warsaw and Rebar Development, Union Station Lofts
- Mentor Award: Cory Colman, Providence Holdings LLC
- Innovator of the Year Award: Aluminum Insights
- Community Catalyst Award (Posthumously): Late Kosciusko County Commissioner Mike Long
