Editor’s note: Officials wish to clarify that the incentive agreement mentioned below is tentative and that more details need to be finalized.
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — KEDCO has confirmed that a company interested in occupying the old LSC Communications property has inked an incentive package.
No details, including the name of the company – or the type of industry – have been released, but Peggy Friday, executive director of KEDCO said the company is expected to announce in April or May plans to use the massive industrial site on the west side of Warsaw.
Friday said the facility could employ upward of 2,000 people.
Talk of a company being interested in the property has surfaced more than once in recent weeks. Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President Rob Parker mentioned it at the annual chamber dinner in front of hundreds of guests.
Friday, who joined KEDCO last summer, said they’ve focused on finding a good match for the property with the help of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and a site selector.
She acknowledged the role of Kosciusko County officials who helped negotiate a proposal to bring the company to Warsaw.
More details, though, still need to be finalized.
“There is a project that is committed and leasing that facility. It will employ possibly 2,000 people,” Friday said in an interview for News Now Warsaw’s public affairs show, In The Know, which will air this weekend. “KEDCO needs to now hit the ground running and work on housing and workforce development, which is going to be huge.”
Friday credits support from Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Kosciusko County officials who negotiated the incentive package.
“We just drilled down and offered an incentive package. It was accepted. I’m really proud of the team,” she said.
The arrival of a new tenant to the sprawling property would represent a relatively quick turnover after LSC Communications closed the longtime printing plant less than two years ago.
R.R. Donnelley operated the printing plant for decades before selling to LSC in 2016.
She said she anticipates a sizeable return on investment in their efforts to attract a new employer to the county.
“Yes, you incentivize a project like this, but in return, millions if not billions, over the next ten or 20 years, will be infused in Kosciusko County,” Friday said.
Friday also said more projects are on the horizon.
“We’re working on several other projects. Like I said, we’ve got housing (plans). We have an orthopedic company that we hope to make an announcement on very soon. Working very closely with the Plug And Play cohort, helping them see the benefit.”
Friday was joined on the radio show by Amy Roe, Kosciusko County Community Coordinator who oversees the HELP program. They discussed a variety of economic development projects.
In the Know can be heard on Kensington Digital Media radio stations. Below are the airtimes:
News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):
Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturdays at 7 a.m.
Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.
WRSW (107.3):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
Willie (103.5 FM):
Sundays at 6 a.m.
