By ALYSSA LOWE
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce

WARSAW — Phase 1 of the Warsaw Technology Park will open at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The first phase of the development will feature a 63,000 square foot shell building (capable of expansion to 125,000 square feet) along with three available shovel ready, fiber connected industrial building sites. The Tech Park is situated on US 30 and Silveus Crossing.

The Warsaw Technology Park was certified in 2012 by the state of Indiana to support the attraction and growth of high-technology business. The Tech Park gives our established orthopedic manufacturing technology industry, with its supportive local vendor network, new possibilities for growth and expansion. A non-orthopedic high tech manufacturer has already established a successful, rapidly growing footprint in the park. Ivy Tech Community College of Warsaw also resides in the Tech Park and trains many of our local orthopedic machinists at their Orthopedic Advanced Manufacturing Training Center.

The Warsaw Technology Park is in a tax increment finance district that has supported the growth and expansion of current park tenants Winona PVD and Medtronic. Those revenues have also supported infrastructure improvements for Phase 1 of the current project including road, curbing, sidewalk, and safety improvements to the park entrance, as well as utility expansion into the park. Sanitary and storm sewers, water service, enterprise grade fiber, and gas and electric utilities serve the park. Careful planning and a diligently negotiated development agreement have allowed for efficient use of TIF revenue to benefit our community as a whole and stimulate economic development.

Over the last four years Mayor Joe Thallemer has worked with the Warsaw Common Council, the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission, and Building and Plan Department to create this new economic development opportunity for the Warsaw Community. Those efforts have led to the completion of the 40-acre phase one expansion that includes the shell building and seven shovel ready building sites. The lots can be configured to allow up to 250,000 square feet in manufacturing space and offer the flexibility for all types of manufacturing technologies as well as research and development activity.

Phase 2, when completed, will offer another 70 acres that may be divided to suit individual client needs. The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission expects to complete Phase 2 of the Technology Park within the next two to three years. In total, roughly 1.2 million square feet in future manufacturing and research and development space will be created in the park.

The property is currently marketed by the Bradley Company. Workforce Development partners include Orthoworx, Grace College, Ivy Tech, and Warsaw Community Schools, and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. Local and state incentives can be requested from the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.