Money has been earmarked for the construction of a shell building in the Knox Industrial Park.
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver told the Knox City Council members last night that companies are looking for existing structures to move right into to start up their businesses. Weaver said companies don’t want to have to go through the process of building the site with infrastructure, permitting and zoning issues. They want to have a building that they can customize to their needs and begin their business right away.
Weaver said a shell building would fit their needs where the SCEDF can put up the property, hire local contractors to build a shell building with city water and sewer. The company could then finish out the interior of the building to suit their needs and to begin production.
Weaver asked the city council members for their support in putting forward up to $200,000 in specific funds as a match to build a 50,000 square foot building with 34’ ceilings. The SCEDF is working with Kankakee Valley REMC to loan a 16 acre tract on the north end of the Knox Industrial Park as part of a USDA grant process.
It is the hope that the building could be built in 2015.
The city council unanimously approved the request.
