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.

[caption id="attachment_118339" align="alignright" width="360"] KEDCO CEO Peggy Friday speaks during the group's annual dinner held recently in Syracuse. Photo provided.[/caption]

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

The post KEDCO celebrarates solid year in economic development appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

SYRACUSE — Several hundred people packed the Oakwood Event for KEDCO’s annual dinner Wednesday night to hear Slate Auto’s CEO, Chris Barman, share insights into why the new electric vehicle company chose Warsaw for its manufacturing plant.

Barman is a Purdue University graduate and a native of Crown Point — just 90 miles west of Warsaw.

“Even though I’m from Indiana, there was never a time when I tried to put my thumb on the scale, and this community won outright," Barman said.

The Michigan-based company kept its plan under wraps as it developed a business model that would set it apart from other automakers.

"We wanted to find a manufacturing location where we knew that we were going to have a strong partnership in the community, but also we had to make sure that it really worked for us and our business plan,” Barman said.

"We didn’t share a lot about who we were. We actually approached the community with a project name. And I really appreciate that KEDCO and the community supported us even though they didn’t know who we were and what we were about and what we were going to build,” Barman said.

“And I’m sure there were things going through their minds like, is thing going to be some Chinese company that wants to come into our community?” she added.

What they've developed is intended to set it aside from the competition and is marketing it as an affordable, safe, reliable, and radically customizable vehicle that just happens to be electric.

The basic, stripped-down Slate models will sell for about $25,000 and are designed to be customized by the owner.

“We are building the affordable vehicle that has long been promised but never delivered,” she said.

The company is about one year away from ramping up production, but Barman said 100,000 vehicles have already been put on reserve, Barman said.

Kosciusko County’s initial discussions with Slate included the late County Council President Mike Long who died months later in February of this year in an accident at home. 

KEDCO and Slate both recognized Long’s role in discussion and his efforts to lure the company to Kosciusko County.

"He was so excited about the prospect of Slate that he wanted to be the first to buy a truck off the lot,” said Peggy Friday, executive director of KEDCO, who headed up negotiations with Slate.

Wednesday's event marked the first of three days of high-profile events involving Slate in Warsaw.

Later, on Thursday, the company will host tours of its reconfigured facility on Old Road 30 for guests.

On Friday, the company will host a public block party in downtown Warsaw

The post Slate Auto CEO says presale orders have reached 100,000 vehicles appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

NORTH WEBSTER — KYLA wrapped up its 32nd year with a dinner Wednesday night at The Owl's Nest, providing a chance to honor students who completed eight projects that encourage leadership through community service.

Over the years, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy has led the way for more than 800 students across Kosciusko County to complete more than 250 projects that help hone their leadership and communication skills.

More than 30 students from across the county participated in this year's projects.

* * * See the group photo below  * * *

This year's keynote speaker, Warsaw High School Girls basketball Coach Lenny Krebs, provided an energized and insightful approach on leadership, the importance of communication and overcoming obstacles.

Krebs has been outspoken about how a cochlear implant vastly improved his hearing and his ability to coach.

Earlier this year, he took the girls team to the state finals and finished the season with a 26-2 record.

He's in his eighth season with Warsaw and provided numerous entertaining outlooks on Wednesday night on being a leader and bringing out the best in people.

He spoke for about 40 minutes without notes and just a handful of slides.

He said he chose to excel in basketball so that he'd be seen as more than the guy with a hearing aid.

The former basketball standout talked about using his hearing aid to his advantage when shooting free throws in loud, distracting arenas.

In a light-hearted moment, Krebbs recalled a technique he employed when he was a Grace College Basketball standout and preparing to shoot free throws in the presence of a loud, hostile crowd.

"My freshman year in college, I was No. 3 in the nation in free throw shooting. Do you wanna know why? Because I'd step to the free throw line, turn my hearing aid off, (and) shoot my free throw in a quiet gym," he said to the sound of laughter from nearly 150 people at the dinner.

Sometimes, thinking outside of the box can make a difference.

"I began to understand that every negative situation created a positive opportunity. You just had to find it," Krebs added.

Below are summaries of each of the projects:

Pop up for a Purpose – (Collected everyday items such as clothes, hygiene items, art supplies, games. Had a day for Cardinal Services clients to pick out items for their use.
Participants included Sierra Hawley, of Triton; Macy Carson, of Triton; Clara Doll, of Triton and Ava Cosby, who is being homeschooled.

Project Pillows & Promises — (Raised funds to purchase items that were given in Care baskets to clients at Fellowship Missions. The group also made tie pillows that were included in the Care baskets.)
Participants include Anna Sterk, of Tippecanoe Valley; McKenna Lowe, of Tippecanoe Valley; Alexis Elliott, of Tippecanoe Valley; Maris Overbey, of Tippecanoe Valley; and Hailey Borsa, of Tippecanoe Valley.

Cause for Paws — (Raised funds to purchase supplies for the Marshall County Humane Society. The group also made dog treats for the shelter.)
Participants include Kayla Poff, Triton; Hannah Holand, of Triton; and Emma Ortiz, of Triton

Youth Mentoring — (Tutored and mentored middle school and grade school students.)
Participants included Matthew Vander Bie, of Warsaw; Sage Parker, of Warsaw; Ian Parrot, of Warsaw; Luke Smith, of Warsaw; and Jackson Barros, of Lakeland Christian Academy.

Bed Build with Sleep in Heavenly Peace — (Raised funds so they could partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and built 20 beds for children in Kosciusko County.)
Participants included Hayden Lechlitner, of Northwood; Landon Bewley, of Tippecanoe Valley; William Mellott, of Tippecanoe Valley; Cruz Nunez, of Tippecanoe Valley; and Brenton Miller, of Tippecanoe Valley.

Joe’s Kids Donation Drive — (Collected funds and supplies to donate to Joe’s Kids so they  could give items to their clients to take home to use for at-home therapy)
Participants included Brooklyn Roberts, of Triton; Taelyn Tom, of Wawasee; and Emerson Krull, of Wawasee.

Hope and Hygiene Drive – (Collected funds and hygiene products that were used to create hygiene packets)
Participants included Titiksha Gorhe, of Warsaw; Sophie Stewart, of Warsaw; Samantha Bloomfield, of Lakeland Christian Academy, and Hilary Renier, of Warsaw.

Kate’s Kart drive – (Raised funds that were donated to Kate’s Kart for the purchase of books that were given to children in the hospital.)
Participants included Hannah Fisher, of Warsaw; Coutney Brower, of Warsaw, and Melanie Hertzler, of Warsaw.

[caption id="attachment_109619" align="aligncenter" width="740"] This year's KYLA class: Front Row (Left to Right) Taelyn Tom, Brooklyn Roberts, Emerson Krull, McKenna Lowe, Maris Overbey, Macy Carson, Emma Ortiz, Hannah Holland, Hilary Renier, Courtney Brower Second Row (Left to Right) Hailey Borsa, Alexis Elliot, Ian Parrott, Jackson Barros, Kayla Poff, Clara Doll, Ava Cosby, Sierra Hawley, Samantha Bloomfield, Melanie Hertzler, Hannah Fisher Back Row (Left to Right) Anna Sterk, Sage Parker, Matthew Vander Bie, Luke Smith, Cruz Nunez, Brenton Miller, Landon Bewley, Hayden Lechlitner, William Mellott. Not Pictured: Titiksha Gorhe, Sophie Stewart[/caption]

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WARSAW — Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce enjoyed another memorable year with record-setting membership and put the spotlight on local businesses and leaders with another soldout annual dinner Thursday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake.

The chamber honored Leon Horn as the Man of the Year and Becky Walls as the Woman of the Year.

Among the many other awards, Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach was honored with the government excellence award and Parkview Health received the Business of the Year Award.

See the full list of award winners below.

Chamber president Rob Parker highlighted top community issues in a short address and urged people to remain engaged in the US 30 project

"Because when we fix US 30 — we take out the stoplights and it becomes a freeway — we can get from here to Fort Wayne in under 30 minutes which means Fort Wayne would be a suburb of Warsaw," Parker said, drawing laughs.

Parker also announced Scott Wiley, the chamber’s member relations manager, who has been a big part of hundreds of Chamber social media videos, is stepping down from his position.

Parker thanked Wiley for his role and impact and Wiley was then greeted with a sustained round of applause in appreciation of his work.

Below is a full list of awards based on a news release from the Chamber.

Parker recognized Lake City Bank as the recipient of the Chamber’s second annual Legacy Impact award. The award honors a business that has been a part of the Kosciusko  County business community for at least 75 years.  

The LaunchPad Impact award, which recognizes a business that provides innovative and creative  solutions to childcare needs in the community was presented to the Kosciusko Community YMCA. Stillwater Hospice was this year’s award sponsor, and it was presented by Leslie Freidel. 

The Main Street Impact Award, sponsored by PNC Bank and presented by Catherine Hill, was awarded to Atelier. Honorable Mention for the Main Street Impact Award was given to Glam Boutique and  Generous Coffee.  

The Making a Difference Award was sponsored by K21 Health Foundation and presented by Rich  Haddad. The award was given to Cardinal Services. Honorable Mention for the Making a Difference  award was given to Big Brothers Big Sisters and Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema.  

The Rising Star Award is given to Kosciusko County’s highest-performing new company. This year, the award, sponsored by Horizon Bank and presented by Sonja Hesser, was awarded to The River Coffeehouse. Honorable Mention for the Rising Star Award was given to CS Portables and Envision  Design.  

The Community Development Award, honoring a business that has shown an outstanding contribution to community development in Kosciusko County, was sponsored by Old National Bank and presented by Sandra Parra. This year’s recipient was The Barn 1880. Honorable Mention for the Community  Development Award was given to D.R. Horton and Milestone Construction.  

This year’s Business of the Year Award was sponsored by Lake City Bank. Chris Wiggins presented the award to Parkview Health. Honorable Mention for the Business of the Year Award was given to Grace  Village and Warsaw Chemical.  

Lauren Twombly, the Chamber’s Director of Marketing and Communications presented the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award to Stacey Leek from Stillwater Hospice. 

The Kosciusko Young Adult Professional of the Year Award was sponsored by Crossroads Bank and presented by John Warren. YAP is a group of business professionals under the age of 40 who are active in the community. This year’s recipient was Leo Patino with Warsaw Community Schools.  

Tabitha McDonalds presented the Government Excellence Award, sponsored by Zimmer Biomet, to Winona Lake Town Manager, Craig Allebach.  

The final awards presented for the evening were the highly anticipated Man and Woman of the Year  Awards. These awards were co-sponsored by 1st Source Bank and Times-Union.  

Doug Hanes of 1st Source Bank then presented the Man of the Year Award. Hanes stated that, “our man  of the year has quietly shaped the fabric of Kosciusko County, using his wisdom, integrity, and  generosity to make our community a better place. For anyone who has spent time walking around  Kosciusko County with him, it’s immediately apparent how deeply he’s embedded in the community.  The number of people he knows and the conversations he shares with them are a testament to his far-reaching influence. Yet, despite all his accomplishments, he remains remarkably humble, never seeking  recognition or accolades for his efforts.” The 2024 Man of the Year is Leon Horn.  

David Slone of Times Union presented the Woman of the Year Award saying that, “our Woman of the  Year is a truly exceptional individual whose dedication, compassion, and leadership have transformed countless lives in Kosciusko County. If one had even half the passion and dedication that she has for the  Special Olympics, they would still be an extraordinary force for change. Her unwavering commitment is  truly unmatched, and she sets a standard for leadership, compassion, and perseverance that inspires  everyone around her.” The 2024 Woman of the Year is Becky Walls. 

Dinner was prepared by The LakeSide in Syracuse. 

The major sponsors for the event included Lake City Bank, 1st Source Bank, 1Eighty Digital, Blue River Digital, Bowen Health, Core Mechanical Services,  DreamOn Studios, Grace College & Seminary, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, Maple Leaf Farms, Robinson  Construction, Silveus Insurance Group, Warsaw GMC, Winona IT, and Wildman.  

The evening’s keynote speaker was Vanessa Green Sinders, President & CEO of the Indiana Chamber of  Commerce. Green Sinders was interviewed by Lake City Bank President & Chief Executive Officer, David  Findlay. 

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