What You Need to Know About Kosciusko County

Kosciusko County is a diverse, wonderful place to live and visit. We reached out to some of our members to find out what they wished everyone knew about our county.

Some of our members also shared some common misconceptions about their business or organization and answered frequently asked questions.

Thank you to everyone who participated and we hope you learn something new about our county through this blog post!

Kosciusko Chamber Of Commerce

The Chamber is not a government organization like many people assume. Instead, it is a 501(c)(6) membership organization. 

While the Chamber can be a wonderful resource for those looking to open a business in Kosciusko County, the organization does not have a say in which stores, restaurants, etc., open in the area.

The Chamber’s mission is to help stimulate healthy and diverse business growth in our community.

Learn more about the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce

City of Warsaw

The City of Warsaw says that the most common question they get from both business owners and residents is, “Who do I call for services: the city or the county?”

The City of Warsaw manages our airport, building permits/inspections, code enforcement, parks and recreation, policing, street maintenance, trash, and wastewater treatment for those businesses and residents that are located within the corporate city limits of Warsaw.

Properties within the corporate city limits and Wayne Township receive fire service from the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory.

The mayor of Warsaw governs those who live within the corporate city limits, even though many residences or businesses may have a Warsaw address and are not within the corporate city limits.  

To find out if your property is within the corporate city limits, use Beacon to find your property and look for the tax district.

If the tax district is listed as Warsaw, the property is within the corporate city limits of Warsaw.

If your property is outside the corporate city limits, your contact for services is the Kosciusko County government. 

Learn more about the City of Warsaw

Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau

There are two questions the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau says they get regularly from both residents and those visiting our county.

What does the Visitors Bureau do?

The Visitors Bureau is a destination marketing non-profit organization responsible for promoting Kosciusko County as an attractive travel destination that also serves to enhance our county’s public image as a dynamic place to live and work.

Are there trails in Kosciusko County?

Kosciusko County has over 40 miles of trails. There are paved options ideal for cycling, walking, running, and walking with your pets. There are also hiking trails located in nature sites that are perfect for hiking, walking your pets, and mountain biking.

Along with trails, there are over 180 miles of county bikeways to enjoy!

Learn more about the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation

Most of the questions the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation receives on a regular basis are ones surrounding what the organization does. They shared the following to help clarify their role in our community.

Is KEDCO a government agency?

No. KEDCO is separate from our government and is a nonprofit organization. But since economic development efforts can involve local government, they do work closely with elected officials and other community organizations.

What does KEDCO do?

As an organization, KEDCO’s goals are to:

• Identify needs and bring people together with the best resources
• Build partnerships, support and steps to reach solutions
• Share stories, results, and assets with local community members

What does KEDCO help with other than incentives?

KEDCO has a diverse team of people that provide support in the areas of: 

• Business retention
• Business attraction
• Entrepreneurship
• Talent building, recruitment and retention
• Community development and redevelopment
• Housing
• Industry-specific initiatives such as agribusiness and medical devices.

Learn more about KEDCO

Lilly Center For Lakes & Streams

The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams is a research and education center based at Grace College in Winona Lake.

While the Center has been part of the community for years, residents and visitors alike often have questions about the Center’s mission and how they operate.

How is the Lilly Center affiliated with Grace College? 

The Lilly Center is a division of Grace College & Seminary. We advance the mission of the college through our community-focused lake and streams research and education. 

Through the Lilly Center’s mission, the lakes in Kosciusko County are some of the best-studied in the state of Indiana. The Center also trains Grace College students for careers after obtaining their degrees.

What does the Lilly Center do to keep the lakes clean?

Our entire community can keep the lakes safe! The Lilly Center recommends lake-focused best practices, based on thorough research, and helps local families adopt them. 

These practices include:

• Planting and caring for native plants
• Properly disposing of waste
• Washing cars in the car wash
• How to effectively and easily pick up after pets
• Demonstrating careful boating
• …and more!

The Lilly Center models many of those actions on their own property, native landscaping being one example. The Center also uses eco pavers and has a green roof. Throughout the year, the Center regularly hosts community workshops, webinars, and nature hikes.

Learn more about the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams

Interested in becoming a Clearly Kosciusko member?

It’s easy and completely free to join!