Starke County Awarded Broadband Readiness Planning Grant

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger
OCRA Executive Director Jodi Golden, Starke County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jessica Craig, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Director of Broadband Opportunities Scott Rudd (Photo provided by the Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office)

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.

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Local Officials Consider Existing Assets Within Starke County while Talking with Stellar Community Project Manager

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

When community leaders gathered in the Starke County Economic Development Foundation’s office last week for an informational meeting about OCRA’s Regional Stellar initiative, they were asked to consider some of the existing assets within the county.

Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet said they should consider a variety of different elements within the community that could encompass a number of categories including natural, human, financial and physical assets. Continue reading →

Stellar Strategizing Continues in Starke County

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted another informational session about the Regional Stellar Communities Designation Program.

Leaders from Hamlet, North Judson and Knox as well officials at the County level and individuals from other entities looking to get involved in the process gathered at the SCEDF office Wednesday night to receive more details about obtaining “Stellar” status.

OCRA’s Liaison for Northwest Indiana Gerry White returned and this time he was joined by Stellar Community Project Manager Michael Sinnet. Continue reading →

EZ Blockchain Seeks Office Space, As Hamlet Data Center Nears Completion

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger

EZ Blockchain is a step closer to setting up operations near Hamlet. Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation gave an update on the new data center to the Hamlet Town Council last week. “I think they’ve laid the cement,” he said. “I think they have the units. If they’re not there yet, they’re going to be.”  Continue reading →

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Touts Progress in Educational Attainment

Posted on Author Michael Gallenberger

Starke County residents are steadily becoming more educated, according to Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. “We’ve gone from 854 people in the county in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and we more than doubled it up to 1,840 in 2016,” he told the Hamlet Town Council last week. “We also increased higher than the national average for people who had some college or an associate’s degree.”

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District 4 Knox City Council Member to be Determined at Tonight’s Caucus, Council Meeting to Follow

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

The caucus to find a replacement for the open District 4 Knox City Council seat will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Starke County Democrat Chairman Kenny Wallace shared that the three individuals submitted a letter of interest before the deadline. Those candidates will be considered and whoever is selected will be sworn in immediately following the caucus. They will be able to attend their first meeting as a member tonight.

The regularly scheduled city council meeting will commence at 7 p.m. Continue reading →

North Judson Officials Plan to Attend Open House Celebrating the Upcoming One-Year Milestone of a Local Business

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

Outstanding Trade Exhibit Services, also known as OTES Signs and Graphics is coming up on their one year anniversary of being established in North Judson. Local officials intend to celebrate the company’s one-year milestone this week.

When the North Judson Town Council met Monday evening, Council President Wendy Hoppe reminded the members that an open house to celebrate the anniversary will be held at the business on Wednesday. Continue reading →

Starke County Wants to be Designated a Regional Stellar Community and Officials Are Taking Steps to Get There

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

What will it take for Starke County to be designated a Regional Stellar Community?

That is the question that was answered Thursday night when various county, city and town officials met at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation Office to find out what steps they can start taking in order to submit a competitive application in the future. Continue reading →

Knox Redevelopment Pilot Project Aims to Help Revitalize the Downtown Area

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

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 →

Knox City Council Holds Public Hearing Over J.W. Hicks Annexation Petition

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

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 →