WARSAW — At a lengthy Kosciusko Redevelopment quarterly meeting Thursday, June 8, Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation President George Robertson spoke to council members about area workforce.

Addressing the shortage of skilled labor in Indiana, Robertson stated, “You can train people, retain people or recruit people. The last two are the quickest ways to get workers, so retaining the people who graduate from our local colleges and recruiting people is critical.”

Robertson went on to say that all ten counties in the northeast region of Indiana have reported issues with affordable housing, explaining, “We define affordable housing as being in the area of $120,000 to $190,000.”

According to Robertson, a house in that price range in Kosciusko County is currently only on the market for an average of six hours.

Robertson said Conexus Indiana, Indianapolis, had a great concept for attracting help to Indiana – to recruit people who are leaving the military. A study showed that when people leave the military, a third stay where their military post was, a third returned to their home state and a third were willing to go to any location where a job was available. Robertson said the problem with this is a lack of affordable housing to support this option.

Robertson said blighted properties are only one way to solve the problem and added, “It’s a limited way.” Describing the lengthy process in obtaining blighted properties, Robertson informed board members that a recent law has been passed which will make it easier for redevelopment commissions to purchase blighted properties.

Andrew Mouser with H.J. Umbaugh & Associates, Indianapolis, gave a presentation regarding Tax Increment Financing. TIF districts are commonly used local means of financing public infrastructure intended to stimulate investment and job creation. Mouser also reviewed redevelopment commission duties, explaining that a county redevelopment commission’s jurisdiction is the entire county minus any cities or towns that have their own redevelopment commission.

Other news:

• The next quarterly meeting will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14.
• Council members approved the minutes for the April meeting.