The SCILL Center will need some more time to decide whether to accept $2.8 million in federal grant funding. The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded the funding for the construction of a 12,000-square-foot facility in the Knox Industrial Park to house SCILL’s welding and robotics programs, something that’s been discussed for years.
Continue readingStarke County’s workforce development efforts have gotten a $2.8 million boost from the federal government. The SCILL Center has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to build a 12,000-square-foot workforce training center. It would house SCILL’s welding and robotics programs.
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A lack of development at the SYSCO property continues to frustrate Hamlet officials. Beverage manufacturer Common Collabs is planning to set up operations in Knox, creating up to 80 jobs in the coming years. Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation told the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday that the company was also shown the Hamlet East Industrial Park.
Continue readingA change could be coming to rates paid by companies who use the lead rail track in the industrial park.
Continue readingAn expansion of Norton Packaging’s facility east of Hamlet could create 20 new jobs. Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation recently gave an update to the Hamlet Town Council.
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Starting today, a handful of Starke County Justice Center trustees will be attending 12 weeks of commercial welding training, with the opportunity to receive certification.
Program officials who were interviewed about this opportunity indicated that the training is being offered to not only give offenders a chance to prove their commitment to recovery and rehabilitation, but to also benefit the community.
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The Town of Hamlet is moving closer to creating a new comprehensive plan. Up to 90 percent of the cost is expected to be covered by grant funding distributed by the state. In order to qualify, the town council has begun the process of updating two of its ordinances.
Starke County is getting $50,000 to develop ways to expand broadband access. Starke and Marshall counties were among five rural Indiana communities awarded a Broadband Readiness Planning Grant.
Smaller schools could use some more state help when it comes to designing local graduation pathways. That’s what Knox Schools Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart told Indiana Secretary for Career Connections and Talent Blair Milo last week.
Starke County’s projected population decline continues to draw concerns from local officials.
A business opportunity is being offered by city officials to help revitalize the downtown area in Knox.
When the City Council met last Thursday, Mayor Dennis Estok shared that the Redevelopment Commission has purchased a building that will be utilized for a proposed pilot program. He said the goal of the program is to provide some incentives to try and induce some business downtown. Continue reading
Starke County’s population continues to decline. Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation discussed the recently-released 2017 population estimates with the Hamlet Town Council last week. Continue reading
Last month’s Starke County Job Fair was a success. That’s according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Continue reading
A public hearing over a petition for annexation was held when Knox City Council members met on Thursday. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford spoke on the behalf of the petitioner, J.W. Hicks Holding LLC.
Gifford explained that the Hicks organization previously purchased some property on the corner of Pacific Avenue. He said that when the company started looking into potential expansion, some records were reviewed and they discovered the property to the south, formerly the Hewlett property, was never annexed into the city. Continue reading
As the Town of Hamlet looks to attract housing development, town officials are learning about some of the challenges they’re likely to face. During this week’s town council meeting, Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation discussed a report from Purdue University.
There may be a market for new housing in Hamlet. That’s according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Last month, the Hamlet Town Council asked foundation officials to help start the process of bringing some residential development to the town.
Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch got a behind the scenes look at the newest program offered by the SCILL Center. Crouch had a chance to speak with instructors and students about the Automation, Robotics and Equipment Maintenance (AREM) classroom and lab.
Director Ron Gifford explained that this specific program is now in its second year. He mentioned that the program is not only available to high school students, it is also open to adults looking to improve their skills in order to obtain more meaningful employment.
Through OCRA and Department of Education grants as well as contributions from the city of Plymouth and city of Knox, SCILL was able to purchase all the necessary equipment for a total cost of approximately $450,000. Continue reading
Knox City Council meets tonight, where members will discuss the replacement of downtown streetlights.
This topic has been talked about during meetings in the past. Mayor Dennis Estok had one experimental bulb installed and has been asking for council feedback about it over the last few months. Council members reported seeing a significant difference in brightness between the old lights and the new bulb.
The council will also hear from Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
The council members will meet in Knox City Hall at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning is gearing up for the start of the school year. As of last Tuesday, 127 students were signed up for SCILL’s three vocational training programs.
