MILFORD — A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a manufacturing facility expansion at Chore-Time's Milford manufacturing and office headquarters was held June 10.

Chore-Time is adding 79,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

“This expansion is a direct result of continued growth and increased demand across our
markets — and the strength of our distributor partnerships.” according to Tina Streit, Vice
President and General Manager of Chore-Time.

“Plans include a dedicated shipping space for the layer building, staging space for the
broiler side, and additional manufacturing space. Groundbreaking took place in April, with
the goal of occupancy in early 2027. With this additional space, we will be better able to
reduce lead times and significantly improve our logistics.”

The addition joins the Chore-Time office and manufacturing facility that dates to the early years of the nearly 75-year-old company. The new facility is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027. The project is funded in part by a 10-year tax abatement granted by the Milford Town Council, the Milford Redevelopment Commission, and with the support of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

“This is a company that believes in Milford. This is a meaningful investment in manufacturing capacity, efficiency and long-term growth here in Milford.” said Peggy Simmons, Chief Executive Officer for the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

R. Yoder is the general contractor for the project. “This groundbreaking represents more than the start of construction; it reflects the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when a dedicated team comes together around a common goal. We are grateful for the trust of CTB and it is an honor to play a role in delivering a manufacturing facility that will support innovation, strengthen the local economy, and create lasting opportunities for years to come.” said Kevin Yoder, Vice President of Sales.

Chore-Time (www.choretime.com) continues its tradition established in 1952 of leadership in the design, manufacture and marketing of equipment for poultry and egg production.

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WARSAW — A new education grant is aimed at supporting people who jumped into the workforce with little college experience, but are viewed by their employers as having strong leadership potential.

The $250,000 grant from the Don Wood Foundation was arranged through OrthoWorx, KEDCO, and Ivy Tech Kosciusko County.

This award will fully fund the next two cohorts of Ivy Tech’s Applied Organizational Leadership Studies program, providing 50 adults across the region with access to high-impact leadership training at no cost.

Allyn Decker, Vice President of Operations and Engagement for OrthoWorx, was asked who this grant could benefit.

“This is really for anyone who is already employed but who is new to supervision or leadership or would be considered a high-potential employee,” Decker said.

Leadership development, he said, is always at the top of the list for companies.

OrthoWorx and the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) will sponsor all tuition, instruction, materials, marketing, and program administration for the AOLS certificate program over the next two years, according to a news release from OrthoWorx.

The initiative directly responds to a growing regional demand for "upskilled supervisors" and emerging leaders capable of advancing into new roles, the release said.

“Leadership development is one of the most consistent needs we hear from local employers,” said Jessica Hauck, Housing & Talent Manager at KEDCO. “This partnership allows us to meaningfully scale a program that equips emerging leaders with practical skills and real advancement opportunities. We’re excited to support another two cohorts and see the ripple effects this investment will create across our community.”

The AOLS program is a flexible, 18-credit certificate built for working adults, offering one evening course at a time from August through May. Coursework includes team leadership, organizational culture, conflict resolution, multicultural leadership, and personal leadership development. Students also earn transferable college credits that can be applied toward an associate degree.

This initiative expands a successful 2025 pilot and will fully fund 25 students per cohort, improving access to leadership development and addressing countywide workforce advancement needs.

“This grant represents a powerful investment in Kosciusko County’s workforce and future,” said Decker.

“The AOLS program has already shown the impact it can make on rising leaders. With this support from the Don Wood Foundation, we’re able to remove financial barriers and open new doors for individuals who want to grow, advance, and contribute even more to our community,” Decker added.

The grant program honors the vision of Don Wood by funding scholarships and grants that help learners earn credentials in fields aligned with the Foundation’s mission, including advanced manufacturing, technology, sales and marketing, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship.

“We see the potential this program offers the community,” said Laura Macknick, President & CEO, Don Wood Foundation. “The Don Wood Foundation is pleased to invest in programs benefitting people who are ready to learn and better equip themselves for future challenges.”

The AOLS program aligns directly with these priorities by equipping adults with immediately applicable leadership skills while supporting long-term career advancement and employer competitiveness.

“We are thrilled to expand access to the Applied Organizational Leadership Studies program,” said Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne & Kosciusko County Chancellor, Kim Barnett-Johnson. “The support from OrthoWorx, KEDCO, and the Don Wood Foundation helps us reach learners who may never have had the opportunity to pursue college credit or leadership training. This program changes lives, strengthens employers, and elevates our entire region.”

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WARSAW — Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation is moving its offices.

KEDCO has had offices on 207 S. Buffalo Street since June 2023, when it was branded as the KEDCO Downtown Business Studio.

[caption id="attachment_121743" align="alignright" width="420"] KEDCO’s new offices will be at 2194 North Pointe. Photo provided.[/caption]

The new office will be at 2194 North Pointe, on the city's north side and west of Harrison Elementary.

"Over the next week, our office hours will be slightly limited. We plan to be fully 'open for business' at our new location on Nov. 4," KEDCCO said in a news release issued Monday morning.

The economic development firm said its office address may be different, "but our dedication to Kosciusko County remains the same."

"As needs shift and grow, this new space will allow us to enhance our focus on our mission," the statement said.

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WARSAW — A national publication is reporting that a new electric vehicle company backed by Jeff Bezos, which unveiled plans last week for a new, innovative truck, hopes to convert the old R.R. Donnelley plant in Warsaw into a manufacturing facility.

TechCrunch, an online publication that's been following developments with Slate Auto for months, reported on Friday that the company "is close to locking in a former printing plant located in Warsaw, Indiana, as the future production site for its cheap electric truck, a review of public records shows."

Slate's announcement pairs up closely with comments by the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation that a major business announcement involving the RR Donnelley property was looming and expected to happen in March or April.

According to TechCrunch:

[caption id="attachment_109046" align="alignright" width="375"] Above is a two-tone version of the Slate Truck unveiled last week. Photo provided.[/caption]

Slate did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peggy Friday, the CEO of the Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, said in an email that she is “under a strict non-disclosure agreement with the project.”

Furthermore, "Slate showed an aerial photo of the factory during Thursday’s event. The company did not say where it was located, but the photo matches a public listing for the facility available on the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s website."

[caption id="attachment_109047" align="alignright" width="375"] A version of one of Slate's vehicles was unveiled last week. Photo provided.[/caption]

TechCrunch previously reported that the company planned to make its EVs, which will cost under $20,000 after the federal tax credit, in Indiana.

Friday had she had hoped to issue a statement or update on Monday, but chose to hold off for the meantime.

Both Friday and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce's CEO, Rob Parker, have expressed in public a sense of confidence that an unnamed company could potentially bring upward of 2,000 jobs to the city.

If the plan comes together, it would represent the biggest economic development story in Kosciusko County in decades and would go a long way toward fulfilling the desires by many to see the local economy diversify beyond orthopedics.

Slate, in an interview with ABC News, described the truck as a "radically affordable and customizable vehicle."

The company is expected to rely on "wraps" rather than a traditional paint department for the exterior look of the vehicle to further trim production costs.

[caption id="attachment_109063" align="alignright" width="375"] A version of one of Slate's vehicles was unveiled last week. Photo provided.[/caption]

Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, in a presentation to the Warsaw Rotary Club on Friday, was asked for an update in the Donnelly property.

He was equally reserved in his comments, adding, "We gotta be careful. There is activity that's happening there, and we're doing everything we can to entertain a massive business."

Asked if this would have a transformative impact, Grose said that if it comes together, it would take intergovernmental cooperation with the county to accommodate the potential growth.

* * *

Here is a video recapping aspects of the innovative Slate Truck.

* * *

The three-year-old startup revealed its vehicle Thursday night in Long Beach, Calif., and promised the first trucks would be available to customers for under $20,000 with the federal EV tax credit by the end of 2026.

The Warsaw facility was home for decades to R.R. Donnelley and Sons before it was sold to LSC Communications about nine years ago.

LSC closed operations about two years ago.

At its height, Donnelley's employed close to 2,000 workers, but when LSC closed, it was down to just a few hundred.

A real estate sign near the entrance of the property on Old Road that was posted ten months ago has been removed.

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WARSAW — The board of directors of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation has announced Margaret (Peggy) Friday will join the organization as CEO to lead the community’s economic development efforts.

Friday brings more than 25 years of expertise with a rich background in economic development, business and workforce development, fundraising, government service, and communications.

[caption id="attachment_92559" align="alignright" width="150"] Peggy Friday[/caption]

"We’re thrilled to welcome Peggy to the KEDCo team and the community. She brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and ideas, and we look forward to furthering economic development efforts with her leadership," said KEDCo Board Chairman Blaine Conley.

Friday will relocate to Kosciusko County from Rochelle, Ill., where she currently serves as industrial development manager with the City of Rochelle where she has focused on economic development programming for industrial and commercial development, including raising public and private funds for industrial projects, leading business retention, attraction, and workforce development efforts, and working closely with local schools to retain local talent, to name a few key areas.

Previously, as a City of Rochelle employee, Friday served as Executive Director/CEO of the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce while performing a dual role as the city’s Commercial and Retail Development Coordinator. Highlights during her tenure in leadership included redesigning the organization from non-profit status to for-profit, significantly increasing membership and business participation, increasing and strengthening public-private partnerships, and executing several successful events and marketing campaigns.

Friday also served as Northern Illinois District Associate Director for U.S. Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald for five years. She was rapidly promoted twice during that time, played a pivotal role as liaison with federal government agencies and military academies, and represented the Senator at events and meetings, crafting and delivering public speeches and briefs.

Friday will relocate to Kosciusko County and join the KEDCo team in early June. Peggy enjoys traveling and spending time with family in Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Alabama.

"I am proud to join the KEDCo Team. Their passion for growth and commitment to serve the people and businesses throughout the region is evident by their rich history and proven economic development skill," said Friday. "I look forward to building relationships, strengthening infrastructure, creating jobs, advancing private enterprise, retaining businesses, broadening the tax base, and creating opportunities for the people of Kosciusko County."

Friday replaces Alan Tio who resigned in December.

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WINONA LAKE — Plans for a new round of tax abatement for Louis Dreyfus Company hit a snag Thursday night when it became apparent the Kosciusko County Council objects to including property the company purchased before initial paperwork for the proposal was submitted.

Louis Dreyfus is seeking abatement on $59 million on new property that would be phased in over a ten-year-period.

The plan was reviewed by Kosciusko County Council in January but Council President Mike Long later reached out to company attorney Steve Snyder expressing concern about the proposed waiver sought to include some property purchased before paperwork was filed.

On Thursday, Snyder addressed the county council and outlined a long history of abatements approved by the council that included waivers.

Snyder said if the county wants to change their approach, they should change their policy.

"If we're going to have a change in what has happened historically, I would like to be in a position to get that policy out so that my clients very strictly follow that policy and we're not confronted with that," Snyder said.

Snyder sought and received a delay on the matter.

The topic will be revisted in March.

Excluding the waiver at this point would leave the company in a difficult position.

"It would be several million dollars that were purchased prior to the SB1s being filed that could not be abated," Snyder said.

Neither Long nor any other council members on Thursday night publicly explained their concern with the waiver.

However, a letter supporting the tax abatement was submitted by Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation applauding the company’s record of investment.

.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCo) board of directors recently announced interim co-directors for the organization.

The board announced in early December that Alan Tio would conclude his role as CEO for the organization to pursue other professional opportunities.

The board has confirmed that Greg Fitzloff and Suzie Light will serve as interim co-directors for KEDCo during the search process.

Fitzloff and Light have both served in other roles for KEDCo. Fitzloff supported the organization for several years as a business development partner, and Light has supported and led specific community-development projects such as the development of the Critical Corridor Connections agenda for downtown Warsaw. Light also provided community outreach support during most of 2021 when Tio was mobilized to active duty overseas with the United States Navy.

"Greg and Suzie bring extensive backgrounds in business, economic development, and nonprofit management experience to the organization, both have already served KEDCo in key capacities, and they’re well-connected in the community," said KEDCo Board Chairman Blaine Conley. "We have a talented team in place at KEDCo, and we’re confident this will allow for a seamless transition as we continue the search process."

A search committee is in place to fulfill the chief executive officer role for the organization.

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WARSAW — Is there a demand for a convention center combined with a performing arts center somewhere in Warsaw?

That’s the question a consulting firm hopes to answer.

On Wednesday, a coalition of local groups led by KEDCo — Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation — was awarded $30,000 that will go toward the cost o a study by Hunden Partners, a Chicago firm hired by KEDCo.

Suzie Light, representing KEDCo, made the pitch to the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission and told News Now Warsaw that she thinks the community might be missing out on opportunities to host conventions because of the lack of a large scale facility that could host hundreds of people.

The study is the first of three phases. The initial study will look at market demand, financial feasibility and economic impact, Light said.

“For 30 years, we’ve been talking that we need a conference here. How do we know and is it sustainable? We hope this market study will help provide that information,” Light told the commission.

She told the commission the project could cost upward of $50 million. Much of that would come from state funding.

The group sought $50,00 for the study, but was awarded $30,000 by KCCRVC.

Light said they will rely on other sources to cover the remaining costs of the study, estimated to be $100,000.

Groups supporting the idea of looking into the idea include the city of Warsaw, Kosciusko County, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and the local Main Street organization, Light said.

She said she'd like to see a convention center combined with a performing arts center somewhere into the downtown landscape, but said there is no specific site that has been identified.

The study will commence immediately.

The group hopes to have an analysis complete by later this year so that such a proposal could be ready for preliminary consideration by the October for READI 2.0 which is overseen by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

READI 2.0 is a state initiative intended to fuel transformative projects in local communities.

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WARSAW -- Northwest Bank recently announced a $5,000 donation to the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

This contribution underscores Northwest Bank's commitment to supporting local economic development and fostering growth in the region, according to a news release from Northwest Bank.

KEDCo plays a vital role in attracting businesses, driving sustainable economic growth and creating job opportunities in Kosciusko County, the release states. Northwest Bank's donation will strengthen KEDCo's initiatives, including business incubation, workforce development and infrastructure enhancements.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with KEDCo and invest in our community's future, this donation demonstrates our commitment to driving economic growth and prosperity in Kosciusko County. We believe in KEDCo's vision and their ability to make a positive impact," said Devin Schultis, area manager of Northwest Bank.

Northwest Bank's donation exemplifies its commitment to corporate social responsibility and community empowerment, according to the release. Through strategic partnerships and impactful initiatives, Northwest Bank continues to make a difference in Kosciusko County.

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WARSAW -- For the second time in a year, Warsaw has landed an overseas company intent on inserting itself into the United States medical device market.

Representatives from the city and Kosciusko County welcomed its newest orthopedic-related company with a groundbreaking ceremony in the Warsaw Technology Park along U.S. 30 Wednesday morning.

Mentor Media, a Singapore-based company that specializes in – among other things –  sterile packaging, will soon occupy part of the future 100,000-square-foot shell building currently under construction in the tech park.

Mentor Media plans to use 30,000 square feet of the building initially and hopes to be operational by September, according to Kok Khoon Lim, president and chief executive officer.

The company said they will begin with about 50 employees in the first three years.

Juergen Kline, who oversees Mentor's Global Medical Device Business, said they are positioned for strong growth.

The company has advanced its sterile packaging standards to meet future medical device regulations that have been embraced by the European Union, which has, in turn, forced the global market to adjust.

As a result, Mentor Media now offers sterile packaging with a 10-year shelf life for its products, which the company said is double what is currently available in the United States.

The company hopes to capitalize on that advantage.

“This is a huge goal. Nobody has ten-year shelf life already and we offer it,” Kline said. “I think it will be very successful. We see a lot of employment (in) the next years,”

Mentor Media is part of Elanders Group, which started out chiefly as a printing business but then began to diversify. In 2014, it acquired Mentor Media.

Overall, Mentor Media is known for providing comprehensive supply chain services customized to meet each client’s needs, according to its website.

Just a few years ago, the company branched into the healthcare sector and sterile packaging.

“We were then kind of looking at orthopedics as one of the focuses, and this is the orthopedic capital of the world," Lim said excitedly. "I cannot be wrong choosing this location to start – right?”

“The majority of the companies we wish to do business with are all right here,” he said.

The company already has a presence in California, but the venture into sterile packaging in Warsaw marks the first in the United States.

The company’s arrival is another big victory for city officials who have now attracted three companies that specialize in orthopedics to its tech park in the past seven years.

Banner Medical arrived in 2016 and Medartis, a Swiss-based company, acquired Nextremity Solutions last year – just months after Nextremity had moved into its headquarters in the tech park.

The city has worked with the developer, West Hill Development, to set the stage for growth in the park by constructing several shell buildings and expanding utilities.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said the city has seen six companies move into the park since 2013 and three of those firms have since expanded.

Thallemer said Mentor Media’s choice of Warsaw gives them an opportunity to grow their business a lot quicker than if they had located somewhere else.

Growth of the park coincides with the continuing evolution in orthopedics, he said.

“All these companies need support industry. It just begets that type of growth in this community. It’s all very symbiotic -- if you will," Thallemer said. "They need each other.” 

Alan Tio, executive director of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, said KEDCo identified the need for sterile packing as a third-party service in Warsaw and has been working to attract a company that specializes in it for several years.

Tio said they’ve spent time building contacts and introducing prospective clients to some of the existing companies. 

In return, Mentor Media became confident in what the community could offer, Tio said.

Sterile packaging, he said, had become “an important capability that’s been missing.”

According to a news release from KEDCo, Mentor Media will offer "a full suite of supply chain services including sourcing and procurement, operations management, customer service, warehousing, and global distribution services."

A representative of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) also attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Based on the company’s job creation plans, the IEDC committed an investment in Mentor Supply Chain USA Inc. of up to $750,000 in the form of incentive-based tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants.

The tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired.

[caption id="attachment_76228" align="aligncenter" width="696"] From left, are Mayor Joe Thallemer, Tim Meyer, Redevelopment Commission President, Victoria Herring, IEDC, Lim Kok Khoon, Mentor Media President & CEO, Yap Rueh Herng, Mentor Media Vice President, Senior Operations, & CTO, Juergen Klein, Mentor Media Global Medical Device Business, Alan Tio, KEDCO CEO, Cary Groninger, West Hill Development, Dan Robinson, Robinson Construction. Photo provided.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_76216" align="aligncenter" width="700"] A sign alluding to the company's future facility sits in front of the shell building it will occupy later this year. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_76239" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Above is a screen grab of an image that appeared at the top of Mentor Media's website on Wednesday.[/caption]

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