Starke and Pulaski Counties are working together to expand adult workforce training. Continue reading
Starke and Pulaski Counties Partner for Workforce Training Program
Terry Kimmel Receives Robert E. Hamilton Award
A long-time banker and former Starke County Economic Development Foundation executive director has been given the foundation’s highest honor. Terry Kimmel was presented with the 2015 Robert E. Hamilton Award at Thursday’s Prospectus and Achievement Luncheon. Continue reading
Manufacturers Day Event to Be Held Tomorrow
The Third Annual Manufacturers Day Event will be held tomorrow at Knox Middle School. The event’s put on by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation to give students a better understanding of the local manufacturing industry. Continue reading
Starke County Pursues Adult Jobs Training Grant
Starke County officials are applying for one of eight state grants to set up a job skills training program for local adults. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver recently spoke to the commissioners about the need for such an initiative.
“The idea is that workers who are currently employed but are not utilizing the potential they have, or workers who are unemployed and seeking new skills, the goal was to find a program that could train them.” Continue reading
Knox City Council Gives Green Light to TCS Expansion
Traffic Control Specialists can now move ahead with plans to build a new facility in the Knox Industrial Park after the Knox City Council approved several measures enabling its construction at its meeting Tuesday. Continue reading
Knox City Council to Decide on TCS Relocation
The Knox City Council will decide whether Traffic Control Specialists will be able to build a new facility in the Knox Industrial Park, at its meeting this evening. Continue reading
Historical Marker Commemorates Knox Drugstore Site
A historical marker now stands on the site of one of downtown Knox’s first commercial structures. The Koffel Building at the corner of Main and Lake Streets was completed in 1891, a year before the city’s streets were paved with brick, four years before municipal electrical service was offered and 17 years before city water was available. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver says drug stores were a vital part of a booming business district.
“Always in the drugstore the fountain was a big thing. From the very beginning there were tables where it was appropriate for the ladies to come in to have coffee, tea or a soft drink or whatever from the fountain. That became quite a social center in the day.” Continue reading
Economic Development Foundation Officials Discuss Hamlet Sewer Concerns
Sysco hasn’t given up plans to build an expansion to its national operation near the intersection of U.S. 35 and 30. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver told the Hamlet Town Board last night that the company does not currently intend to offer for sale the land it owns near Hamlet. Continue reading
Knox City Council Members Approve Donation Toward Serenity Garden Project
The Knox City Council agreed to donate funds to build a gazebo for the Serenity Garden project.
Knox High School students will be planting trees, flowers, and other plants in the green space at the corner of Lake and Main Streets in the downtown area. Don White, who is a member of the Starke County Economic Development Board of Directors, presented the council members with an idea for a sturdier structure for a gazebo at that location.
January Report Shows Increase in Unemployment Rates
Starke County returned to the top 10 in terms of unemployment in January.
Ron Gifford from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation said that all 92 counties went up by an average of 1.1% per county, but the state as a whole only went up 0.1%. Starke County reported an unemployment rate of 9.0 percent and was ranked seventh in the state. Pulaski County had an employment rate of 6.3 percent and ranked 52nd in the state. Marshall County reported 6.2 percent.
State Coalition to Attempt to Close Skills Gap, Programs Already in Place Locally
A skills gap is being blamed for the lack of progress in Indiana’s economic recovery. According to the Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition, career and technical education for youth and the lack of credential attainment among the state’s adult workforce, are needing attention.
The Starke County Initiative for Lifelong Learning Center or SCILL Center, is ahead of the curve with providing opportunities for adults and students to gather skills needed to be a productive member of the adult workforce. Ron Gifford from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation said officials recognized one gap about three years ago.
Local Official Attends Economic Development Course
SCEDF Looks to Improve Communication with Public
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) Board of Directors met recently to discuss the past, present and future of the organization.
One concern that the board members felt that needed improvement was communication with the public. SCEDF Executive Director Charlie Weaver stated that what they are doing is not secretive and work done by the organization could be more transparent.
City of Knox Moving Forward with Blight Elimination Program
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers updated the city council last week on the Blight Elimination Program.
The city received a grant for $187,000 that will aid in the cost of removing blighted,vacant and abandoned homes in the city. A majority of the homes on the list are in the Parkview Heights area.
Mayor Chambers explained that the state does not want the purchased properties for demolition under this grant in the name of the city. They want a holding company that is not associated with the city. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver said the city could use the development foundation as a holding company. City Attorney David Matsey will draft a Memorandum of Understanding with the development foundation to hold those properties for three years.
Starke County Officials Celebrate Completion of Highway Intersection
The intersection of State Road 8 and Starke County Road 300 East now has turn lanes, guardrails, acceleration and deceleration lanes. Members of the Starke County Council, County Commissioners and Starke County Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors celebrated the completion of the project with a ceremonial ribbon cutting Monday morning.
“This was extremely dangerous before for trucks and motor vehicles to come to pass. They couldn’t make the turns. If a truck wanted to go toward 35 from 300, they crossed both travel lanes into the berm,” Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charlie Weaver said. Continue reading
Starke County Officials Celebrate Completion of Road Project
A major Starke County road project is substantially complete. Members of the county council and commissioners and officials from the Starke County Economic Development Commission will celebrate the reconstruction of the intersection of State Road 8 and 300 East later today. The intersection has been rebuilt to accommodate traffic to and from the Knox Industrial Park. It now features a turn lane and acceleration and deceleration lanes to help trucks more easily navigate the corner. Continue reading
Starke County Economic Development Foundation Seeks Planning Grant
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation is seeking a $15,000 grant to plan for future workforce needs through the SCILL Center. Executive Director Charlie Weaver says they are looking at the cost of implementing vocational and adult automation robotics equipment maintenance programs. He says there is a growing need for that skill set in manufacturing settings. Continue reading
Former Stelrema Building Sold, County Recoups Back Taxes
The former Stelrema building on U.S. 35 north of Knox will soon be ready for occupancy. Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford says it was recently sold to the Michigan man who owns the Freeman Products building at the corner of 300 East and Culver Road. Continue reading
North Judson Native Receives Robert E. Hamilton Award
A longtime North Judson resident and businessman is the recipient of the Robert E. Hamilton Award from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. Marv Peters was one of the initial members of the Starke County Development Foundation in 1985. He owned Marv’s Body Shop in North Judson from 1966 until his retirement in 1999 and continues to work on antique cars today. Peters is also the president of the North Judson Board of Zoning Appeals and serves as a member of the Starke County Alcoholic Beverage Board. He was president of the North Judson Town Council from 1979-83. Continue reading
Another Vocational Program in the Works
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) is looking to bring life back into the vocational building on the Oregon-Davis school campus to begin an automation robotics and equipment maintenance program as an extension of vocational programs through the SCILL Center.
According to Ron Gifford, the SCEDF will assist in seeking a way to fund the program full-time and to acquire equipment. A pilot program started this year with several students in the eighth grade through the tenth grade enrolled in the program.
