[caption id="attachment_136230" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo of hard hat provided by Slate Auto.[/caption]

WARSAW — Slate Auto’s transformation of the old RR Donnelley printing plant in Warsaw into a high tech automotive production facility continues on schedule, according to the company which offered a glimpse on Friday into the changes.

Local media on Friday took a tour of part of the 1.3 million square foot property including the production area that was gutted and brought back to life over the past year.

The start-up automotive company seeks to shake up the market with a stripped-down "Blank Slate" vehicle with a price of $24,950.

More than 180,000 people previously placed a refundable $50 reservation and more than 10,000 have now placed $300 down payments.

“We’re really excited that we have the reservations to prove this is the truck that America wants," said Jeff Jablansky, Slate's head of public relations and communications.

Dan Tasiemski, Slate's head of manufacturing engineering, said they remain on schedule to begin production in the fourth quarter.

Friday's tour focused on part of the production area, which looks like a new plant, already busy with employees and contractors moving across newly installed heavy duty cement flooring.

Jablansky said the factory is essentially "full and basically ready to start building.”

The tour on golf carts included a stop in the body shop where robots could be seen moving behind what looked like wire cages, moving quietly and efficiently.

The tour also took reporters over a stretch of outdoor pavement that felt like an intense and lengthy rumble strip. The company calls it the BSR, (short for buzz, squeak, rattle) that is part of quality control.

Slate also highlighted how work stations on the assembly line can moves up and down for better ergonomics.

Construction of a 133,000 square-foot extension of the production building is currently under way.

Slate has headquarters in Michigan and other offices in California, and has already hired 575 people for the Warsaw facility. Eventually, the company plans to employ around 2,000 and continues to hire aggressively.

The company is currently hiring, with an emphasis on attracting local workers.

“We need and we want those local candidates … to be a part of this team,” said Stacy Burk, head of plant human resources, “My goal, and I think a lot of the leadership's goal here is to create a generational place.” 

Workers, she said, will need “a willingness to be part of something fun. I tell them, 'You know, if you want to come to a company that's got a great culture, come here. You will want to be a part of this. You'll want to come to work every day.' ”

Below are photos taken during the tour by News Now Warsaw.

[caption id="attachment_136260" align="aligncenter" width="752"] Plans to construct an extension of the automotive production area are underway.[/caption]

The post Slate Auto highlights innovation as electric truck maker ramps up toward production in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Watershed Foundation recently hosted an afternoon tour to take a closer look at projects completed recently in the vicinity of Pierceton, showcasing the synergy between environmental stewardship and agricultural innovation.

The tour highlighted several successful recent partnership projects with local farmers, offering a firsthand look at collaborative efforts aimed at promoting sustainable practices and preserving the delicate ecological balance of the region.

[caption id="attachment_86114" align="alignright" width="222"] The Watershed Foundation's watershed conservationist Brad Clayton holds a tiny cereal rye sprout, discussing the benefits of cover crops. Photo provided.[/caption]

The Watershed Foundation continues to build relationships with local farmers and linking with them to address environmental challenges within the watershed area. The tour provided an opportunity for community leaders and stakeholders to witness the positive impact of these collaborative projects.

“It’s one thing to talk with people about the incredibly important work The Watershed Foundation is able to do in partnership with local farmers – but seeing that work with our own eyes and talking to those with a personal understanding of the problems and solutions is invaluable,” said Lyn Crighton, executive director of The Watershed Foundation. “We feel it’s very important to help our supporters see and really understand what we’re trying to do.”

During the recent tour, attendees were able to see several critical projects and talk with watershed conservationist Brad Clayton about the projects completed in that area and walk through the steps required to make them happen.

“One of the standout projects involved the implementation of cover crops on farmlands. This sustainable agricultural practice helps prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance overall soil health,” said Crighton. “Brad (Clayton) talked about the positive outcomes observed since the adoption of cover crops.”

Walking along a field toward a ditch area, the tour also showcased ongoing efforts to stabilize stream banks in that area and within the watershed. “Through strategic partnerships, farmers have been implementing riparian buffer zones and other conservation practices to protect water quality and reduce sediment runoff,” added Crighton.

Additionally, the tour looked at a barn built to hold nutrient-rich manure that keeps it from washing downhill into a neighboring stream during rain and other precipitation events. Those in attendance seemed to enjoy the opportunity to see the projects up close and get answers to their questions along the way.

“Community engagement is an important aspect of what we’re doing when we tour the watershed,” said Crighton. “The discussions that happen during and because of the tours foster a sense of understanding and shared responsibility for the long-term sustainability of the watershed. We can look at the projects we’ve completed and begin to understand how it’s possible and necessary to do even more.”

Crighton shared that The Watershed Foundation hosts tours several times a year – typically in the spring and fall – to educate the community about the important projects and partnerships at work. The tours are usually about 1.5 to 2 hours in length and focus on different parts of The Watershed Foundation’s focus areas in Whitley, Noble and Kosciusko Counties.

For more information about joining a future watershed tour, contact admin@watershedfoundation.org or call (574) 834-3242.

The post TWF tour highlights water quality projects, ag partnerships near Pierceton appeared first on News Now Warsaw.