Warsaw Invests in Future With Tech Park
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now"The Orthopedic Capital of the World" is set next week to welcome a new tool for its economic development portfolio. City officials will cut the ribbon on the $3 million first phase of the 95-acre Warsaw Certified Technology Park. Mayor Joe Thallemer says it provides "desperately-needed" space for businesses seeking to expand or relocate.
He tells Inside INdiana Business the park has already become a show piece.
Construction on a 62,500 square-foot shell building has recently wrapped up. Thallemer says it, along with the Warsaw name and advanced manufacturing reputation, have helped drum up interest in the property already. He says the "foundation" for the tech park was laid by the "crazy" growth taking place at nearby Winona PVD. The park is also near the Medtronic facility.
City Planner Jeremy Skinner says the three-stage project is a culmination of long-term efforts among top city leaders to create more opportunities for business growth in the Kosciusko County community. Phase two could begin next year.
The city says employees are drawn to the area from Marshall, Fulton, St. Joseph, Wabash, Whitley, Allen, Noble and Elkhart counties. It is home to some of the largest orthopedics manufacturing companies in the world, most notably the recently-merged Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)-owned DePuy Synthes Co.
The city says potential manufacturing jobs that could locate to the park would range from $9 to $19 per hour. A website detailing the park's advantages says Warsaw is "committed to creating a pipeline of manufacturing talent."