The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) serves as the Local Economic Development Organization for all of Starke County (including its incorporated areas.) The SCEDF office is in fact a proven one stop office for all economic development activities in the County, with its primary role being that of an ombudsman for both existing and prospective businesses in the county. SCEDF will guide a prospect or a business through whatever path that is necessary to locate, grow, or otherwise assist such business. The staff of SCEDF includes two persons with over thirty (30) years of experience each in law practices representing businesses as well as a variety of municipal bodies, so they have “been there, done that.” Suffice it to say, with that experience, SCEDF builds bridges, not impediments.
Located in Northern Indiana, less than a two-hour drive to downtown Chicago, Starke County offers a rural atmosphere steeped in advanced manufacturing and logistics that lies in close proximity to several urban areas easily accessible by a good transportation system. This Fact Sheet provides you with information you can use in evaluating Starke County as the site for your business location. If there is any other information that you need, please contact Larry Wickert, Executive Director, at the address, telephone number, or email address above. We look forward to telling you more about the merits of Starke County, Indiana. Call us and we will prove what we say.
| City | Time |
| Chicago | 1:45 |
| Cincinnati | 4:00 |
| Cleveland | 5:00 |
| Detroit | 4:30 |
| Grand Rapids | 2:45 |
| Indianapolis | 2:30 |
| Louisville | 4:15 |
| Milwaukee | 3:30 |
| Minneapolis | 9:00 |
| Nashville | 7:00 |
| South Bend | 1:00 |
| Springfield | 4:30 |
| St. Louis | 6:00 |
| Toledo | 3:30 |
| Toronto | 8:30 |
Starke County is in the Central Time Zone.
Starke County and its municipalities offer assistance to new companies through required infrastructure improvements and tax phase-in. The infrastructure assistance is determined on a case-by-case basis. Tax phase-in (tax abatement) is reviewed by the governmental unit in which the project is to be located. If approval is granted, it can be for up to ten (10) years for both real and personal property and there are annual reporting documents that must be filed. Generally, real estate projects receive abatements of between 5–10 years, and personal property projects receive abatements of between 3–10 years. A grant of tax abatement equals about 50% of the taxes that would otherwise have been paid without abatement.
New buildings and substantial improvements to existing buildings are eligible for tax phase-in, but land does not qualify. Real property tax phase-in is a declining percentage of the increase in assessed value of the improvement based on one of the time periods shown below.
Manufacturing equipment as well as research and development equipment, logistical distribution equipment, and information technology equipment that is new to Indiana is eligible for tax phase-in treatment. Personal property tax phase-in is a declining percentage of the assessed value of the newly installed manufacturing and/or research and development equipment, logistical distribution equipment, or information technology equipment based on one of the time periods shown below.
A portion of Starke County is located in a HUBZone. This program stimulates development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by providing Federalcontracting preferencesto small businesses located in distressed areas or HubZones. These preferences go to small businesses that obtain HubZone certification. Small business concerns (SBC’s) may apply for HubZone certification online at: www.sba.gov/hubzone/. The certification process takes a maximum of 30 days.
Starke County businesses can be Foreign Trade Zone certified within 30 days under an Alternative Site Framework.
The City of Knox maintains a small revolving loan fund that is available for certain projects approved by its City Council, which loans are secured by specified assets.
| Description | Rate |
| Corporate Income | 6.00% |
| Individual Income | 3.23% |
| Sales | 7.00% |
| Indiana Gross Receipts | None |
| Inventory | None |
| Description | Rate |
| Local Income Tax | 1.71% residents |
Starke County Property Tax Rates for 2017, payable in 2018 are as follows:
| Description | Rate |
| California Twp - Knox Schools | 2.0803 |
| Center Township | 1.9417 |
| Description | Rate |
| Knox City (Center) | 3.3789 |
| Oregon Township | 1.6431 |
| Description | Rate |
| North Bend Township | 1.1499 |
| Oregon Township | 1.7772 |
| Description | Rate |
| Railroad township | 1.7382 |
| Washington Township | 2.0304 |
| Description | Rate |
| Wayne township | 1.6544 |
| North Judson Town (Wayne) | 2.9855 |
| Description | Rate |
| Davis township | 1.8451 |
| Hamlet Town - Davis Township | 3.2452 |
| Description | Rate |
| Hamlet Town - Oregon township | 3.2273 |
The cost of doing business in Starke County and Indiana is extremely at4tractive to companies. The chart below compares the cost of doing business in Indiana with eight surrounding Midwestern states by looking at total state business taxes in each state.
The State of Indiana offers several incentives in the form of tax credits, including the following:
Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit (EDGE) – provides incentive to businesses to support job creation, capital investment, and to improve the standards of living for Indiana residents. The refundable corporate income tax credit is calculated as a percentage (not to exceed 100%) of the expected increased tax withholdings generated from new jobs creation. The credit certification is phased in annually for up to 10 years based upon the employment ramp-up outlined by the business.
Headquarters Relocation Tax Credit – a tax credit available to corporations that relocate their headquarters to Indiana, which allows a credit against its state tax liability equal to half of the costs incurred in relocating the headquarters. A company must have worldwide annual revenue of at least $50 million to qualify and a minimum of 75 employees.
Hoosier Business Investment Tax Credit (HBITC) – provides incentives to support job creation, capital investment and to improve the standard of living for Indiana residents. The non-refundable corporate income tax credits are calculated as a percentage of the eligible capital investment to support the project. The credit may be certified annually, based on the phase-in of eligible capital investment, over a period of two full calendar years from the commencement of the project.
Industrial Recovery Tax Credit – provides an incentive for companies to invest in facilities requiring significant rehabilitation or remodeling expense. After a building has been designated as an industrial recovery site, companies may be eligible for a tax credit calculated as a percentage of qualified rehabilitation expense. This credit is open to occupants of or investors in industrial recovery sites consisting of a building or complex of buildings in service at least 15 years, with at least 100,000 interior square feet. As of January 1, 2017, buildings that were demolished within the 5 years preceeding an application may qualify if demolished for health and safety concerns.
Patent Income Exemption - allows certain income derived from qualified patents to be exempt from taxation. The tax exemption for patent-derived income defines qualified patents to include only utility patents and plant patents. The total amount of exemptions claimed by a taxpayer in a taxable year may not exceed $5 million. Qualified taxpayers are eligible for an exemption of 50% of patent income for each of the first five years and then the exemption decreases over the next five years to 10% in the tenth year. This benefit is available only to companies with 500 or fewer employees.
Industrial Development Grant Fund – provides money to local governments for off-site infrastructure projects associated with an expansion of an existing Indiana company or the location of a new Indiana facility. Must be matched with a combination of local government and company financial support.
Tax-Exempt Bonds – issued by state or local governmental entities for the benefit of a private company, usually manufacturers. Interest on the bonds is generally exempt from federal income taxes for investors, which typically results in lower long-term interest rates to the borrower.
Venture Capital Investment Tax Credit – established to improve access to capital to fastgrowing Indiana companies by providing individual and corporate investors an additional incentive to invest in early stage firms. Investors who provide qualified debt or equity capital to Indiana companies receive a credit against their Indiana income tax liability equal to the lesser of 20% of the qualified investment capital or $1,000,000.
Research and Development Tax Credit – Two tax incentives targeted at encouraging investments in research and development. Taxpayers may receive a credit against their Indiana state tax liability calculated as a percentage of qualified research expenses. In addition, taxpayers may be refunded sales tax paid on purchases of qualified research and development equipment. The Indiana Department of Revenue oversees these incentive programs.
Capital Access Program – a small business credit enhancement program that creates a specific cash reserve fund for the lender to use as additional collateral for loans enrolled in the Program. CAP allows lenders to consider making slightly riskier loans that might not meet conventional lending requirements.
Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF) - provides assistance to businesses to support training and upgrading skills of employees required to support new capital investment. The grant may be provided to reimburse a portion (typically 50%) of eligible training costs over a period of two full calendar years from the commencement of the project.
Additional information concerning any of the above tax credits and special programs can be found on the website of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation at www.iedc.in.gov. You may also contact Larry Wickert, Executive Director of SCEDF at 574-772-5627 or at execdir@scedf.biz or contact Matt Saltanovitz, Director of the Northwest Region of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation at 219-798-0618 or at MSaltanovitz@iedc.in.gov.
| Components of Population Change | Starke County | Region | Indiana |
| Net Domestic Migration | -77 | -2,812 | -15,870 |
| Net International | 1 | 901 | 11,258 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -14 | 1,845 | 22,810 |
| Housing | Starke County | Percent | Region | Percent | Indiana |
| Total Housing Units in 2015 | 10,985 | 100 % | 290,760 | 100 % | 2,820,253 |
| Total Housing Units in 2010 | 10,962 | 100 % | 289,219 | 100 % | 2,795,541 |
| Owner Occupied | 7,174 | 65.4 % | 190,186 | 65.8 % | 1,747,975 |
| Renter Occupied | 1,864 | 17.0 % | 69,107 | 23.9 % | 754,179 |
| Vacant | 1,924 | 17.6 % | 29,626 | 10.2 % | 293,387 |
| Education | Starke County | Percent | Region | Percent | Indiana |
| School Enrollment (Total) | 3,658 | 0.3 % | 113,484 | 10.2 % | 1,108,151 |
| Public | 3,565 | 0.3 % | 105,545 | 10.1 % | 1,046,058 |
| Private | 93 | 0.1 % | 7,939 | 12.8 % | 62,093 |
| Population Over Time | Starke County | Percent | Region | Percent | Indiana |
| Yesterday (2010 Census) | 23,363 | 0.36 % | 680,869 | 10.5 % | 6,483,797 |
| Today (2015 Estimate) | 22,958 | 0.35 % | 683,502 | 10.3 % | 6,619,680 |
| Tomorrow (2020 Projection) | 23,102 | 0.34 % | 705,067 | 10.3 % | 6,852,121 |
| Residential Building Permits | Starke County | Percent | Region | Indiana | Region |
| Total Permits Filed | 49 | 100 % | 1,249 | 100 % | 18,713 |
| Single Family | 49 | 100 % | 955 | 76.5 % | 18,713 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0 % | 30 | 2.4 % | 572 |
| 3- and 4- Family | 0 | 0 % | 4 | 0.3 % | 163 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0 % | 260 | 20.8 % | 3,910 |
Starke County is home to three K-12 public school corporations and a portion of its population also attends a fourth school corporation headquartered in a neighboring county. There is a private K-8 school in North Judson and The Culver Academies are located a few miles away in Culver.
| Education | Starke County | Percent | Region | Percent |
| Honors Graduates | 58 | 21.6 % | 2,404 | 31.5 % |
| Core 40 Graduates | 152 | 56.7 % | 4,291 | 56.2 % |
| General Graduates | 58 | 21.6 % | 936 | 12.3 % |
| TOTAL | 268 | 7,631 | ||
| Going on to College | 133 | 49.6 % | 5,757 | 75.4 % |
| Not Going on to College | 135 | 50.4 % | 2,774 | 36.4 % |
The Starke County Labor Force has been quite steady over the past year despite very high unemployment rates during that same time period of time. Chart 1 below shows the total available labor force over the past 12 months, along with the numbers of employed and unemployed workers. Chart 2 below shows the unemployment rates in the County for each of the last five years by month. Chart 3 below depicts the average annual unemployment rates in Starke County and compares those rates with the State of Indiana and the United States.
| Employment by Industry | Starke County | Percent | Region | Percent | Indiana |
| Total by place of work | 7,016 | 100 % | 355,287 | 100 % | 3,808,403 |
| Wage and Salary | 4,954 | 70.6 % | 287,875 | 81.0 % | 3,105,074 |
| Farm Proprietors | 438 | 6.2 % | 4,416 | 1.2 % | 50,679 |
| NonFarm Proprietors | 1,624 | 23.1 % | 62,996 | 17.7 % | 652,650 |
| Farm | 499 | 7.1 % | 5,634 | 1.6 % | 61,122 |
| NonFarm | 6,517 | 92.9 % | 349,653 | 98.4 % | 3,747,281 |
| Private | 5,420 | 77.3 % | 312,662 | 88.0% % | 3,304,106 |
| Government | 1,097 | 15.6 % | 36,991 | 10.4 % | 443,115 |
Region includes the Indiana Counties of Fulton, Jasper, La Porte, Marshall, Porter, Pulaski, and St. Joseph.
Starke County exports more labor than it imports. As a result of lost time on the road and the higher cost of driving, most of those Starke County residents employed outside the County are seeking in-County employment.
Starke County has experienced steady, moderate growth since the 1950 Census, with only a slight decrease in the 2010 Census figures. Chart 2 below shows a comparison based on 2010 Census Data of the different age groups found both in Starke County and the 7-County Region that adjoins Starke County, which would include the Indiana Counties of Fulton,Jasper, LaPorte,Marshall, Porter, Pulaski, and St. Joseph.
| Gallons of Usage per month | Water | Sewer |
| First 5,000 | $4.41 | $7.83 |
| Next 5,000 | $4.03 | $7.69 |
| Next 5,000 | $3.56 | $6.64 |
| Next 5,000 | $3.10 | $5.69 |
| Next 5,000 | $2.63 | n/a |
| Next 20,000 | n/a | $4.87 |
| Over 25,000 | $2.25 | n/a |
| Size of Meter | Gallons Allowed | Water | Sewer |
| 5/8" - 3/4" | 4,872 | $16.65 | $38.09 |
| 1" | 5,000 | $27.10 | $30.10 |
| 1-1/2" | 8,212 | $40.35 | $62.93 |
| 2" | 12,603 | $69.80 | $93.67 |
| 3" | 23,750 | $108.40 | $156.25 |
| 4" | 71,524 | $193.45 | n/a |
| 6" | 157,381 | $368.50 | n/a |
| Size of Connection | Charge |
| 2" | $6.40 |
| 3" | $9.65 |
| 4" | $13.90 |
| 6" | $36.60 |
| 8" | $67.40 |
| 10" | $102.70 |
| Size of Connection | Charge |
| 2" | $6.40 |
| 3" | $9.65 |
| 4" | $13.90 |
| 6" | $36.60 |
| 8" | $67.40 |
| 10" | $102.70 |
| Meter Size | Charge |
| 5/8" - 3/4" | $2.40 |
| 1" | $6.00 |
| 1 1/2" | $12.00 |
| 2" | $19.20 |
| 3" | $36.00 |
| 4" | $60.00 |
| 6" | $120.00 |
Private Hydrant Rental Charge is $31.05 per month.
| Size of Connection | Charge |
| Residential up to and including 1" connection | $700.00 plus cost of meter (City furnishes meter and completes tap) |
| Commercial up to and including 2" connection | $700.00 plus cost of meter and tap fee |
| Commercial over 2" and up to 6" connection | $1,240.00 plus cost of meter and tap fee |
| Commercial over 6" connection | $1,855.00 plus cost of meter and tap fee |
Notes: Charges shown above are per 1,000 gallons. Sewage rates are based on the quantity of water used as the rates and charges are measured by the water meter then in use.For further information regarding rates and charges, contact Larry Wickert at 574-772-5627 or at execdir@scedf.biz.
| Gallons of Usage per month | Water |
| First 5,000 | 5.05 |
| Next 5,000 | 4.55 |
| Next 5,000 | 3.70 |
| Next 10,000 | 2.95 |
| Next 25,000 | 2.45 |
| Over 50,000 | 2.10 |
| Gallons of Usage per month | Sewer |
| First 3,200 | 12.05 |
| Next 6,800 | 8.70 |
| Next 10,000 | 7.25 |
| Next 20,000 | 5.40 |
| Next 60,000 | 4.65 |
| Over 100,000 | 4.15 |
| Size of Meter | Water | Sewer |
| 5/8" | 16.75 | 38.55 |
| 3/4" | 27.95 | 38.55 |
| 1" | 55.45 | 54.25 |
| 1-1/2" | 97.00 | 75.90 |
| 2" | 152.25 | 133.65 |
| 3" | 207.55 | 196.65 |
| 4" | 414.95 | 300.40 |
| 6" | 839.80 | 438.80 |
| Description | Water |
| 2" Connection | 69.35 |
| 3" Connection | 155.75 |
| 4" Connection | 276.65 |
| 5" Connection | 432.30 |
| 6" Connection | 622.45 |
| 8" Connection | 1,106.65 |
| 10" Connection | 1,729.00 |
Notes: Charges shown above are per 1,000 gallons. Sewage rates are based on the quantity of water used as the rates and charges are measured by the water meter then in use.
For further information regarding rates and charges, contact Larry Wickert at 574-772-5627 or at execdir@scedf.biz.
| Gallons of Usage per month | Water |
| First 5,000 | 5.43 |
| Next 5,000 | 2.79 |
| Next 5,000 | 2.41 |
| OVer 15,000 | 2.17 |
| Gallons of Usage per month | Sewer |
| First 5,000 | 9.45 |
| Next 10,000 | 9.01 |
| Next 15,000 | 8.13 |
| Next 20,000 | 7.10 |
| Next 25,000 | 6.6 |
| Next 50,000 | 5.46 |
| Over 125,000 | 4.39 |
| Gallons of Usage per month | Water | Sewer |
| 5/8" - 3/4" | 21.72 | 28.65 |
| 1" | 40.00 | 68.00 |
| 1-1/2" | 62.14 | 153.75 |
| 2" | 88.67 | 261.40 |
| 3" | 132.24 | 429.30 |
| 4" | 194.12 | 715.55 |
| 6" | 348.81 | 1,431.05 |
| 8" | n/a | 2,289.70 |
| 10" | n/a | 3,291.40 |
| 12" | n/a | n/a |
WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CHARGE – a customer is required to pay a system development charge to be used primarily to offset the cost of future extensions, modifications, and improvements, as follows:
| Gallons of Usage per month | Water | Sewer |
| 5/8" | 412 | 500 |
| 3/4" | 618 | 700 |
| 1" | 1,030 | 1,250 |
| 1-1/4" | 1,648 | 2,000 |
| 1-1/2" | 2,060 | 2,900 |
| 2" | 3,296 | 5,000 |
| 3" | 6,180 | 11,500 |
| 4" | 10,300 | 20,000 |
| 6" | 20,600 | 45,500 |
| 8" | 32,960 | 81,050 |
| 10" | 47,380 | 126,500 |
| 12" | 88,580 | 182,300 |
| Description | Water |
| 4" Connection | 88.40 |
| 6" Connection | 197.20 |
| 8" Connection | 352.24 |
| 10" Connection | 549.44 |
Notes: Charges shown above are per 1,000 gallons. Sewage rates are based on the quantity of water used as the rates and charges are measured by the water meter then in use.
A water tap charge is also collected from each customer in the amount of the greater of $300 or the actual cost of the needed meter, but in no event less than $300.
The customer is required to purchase any meter used, in addition to all other noted charges.
For further information regarding rates and charges, contact Larry Wickert, at 574-772-5627 or at execdir@scedf.biz.
All municipal sewer and water utilities have excess capacities.
| Description | Contact |
| County Commissioners: | Don Binkley (President), Kathy Norem, Charles Chesak |
| County Council: | Freddie Baker (President), David Pearman, Bryan Cavender, Robert sims, Nancy Dembowski, Pam Stalvaum, Brad Hazelton |
| Auditor: | Kay Chaffins (574-772-9101) |
| Assessor: | Mcihelle Snowden (574-772-9107) |
| Treasurer: | Kasey Clark (574-772-9111) |
| Zoning/Building: | Terry Stephenson (574-772-9133) |
| Description | Contact |
| Mayor: | Dennis Estok (574-772-4553) |
| Clerk-Treasurer: | Jeff Houseton (574-772-3032) |
| Common Council: | Donald Kring (President), Bertha Blue, Tim Manns, Jeff Berg, Ron Parker |
| Zoning Administrator: | Kenny Pfost (574-772-5445) |
| Description | Contact |
| Town Council: | Weny J. Hoppe (President), Jane Ellen Felchuck, Nathan F. Bradley, Josh Brown, John Rowe |
| Clerk-Treasurer: | Andrew Rowe (574-772-5445) |
| Street/Utilities Superintendent: | Marshall Horstmann |
| Description | Contact |
| Town Council: | Dave Kesvormas (President), Brian Earnest, Connie Bailey |
| Clerk-Treasurer: | Kristina Pitts (574-867-3541) |
| Street/Utilities Superintendent: | Fred Row |
Air Services: Starke County is the home of the Starke County Airport (OXI), located about 3 miles northwest of the City of Knox. One asphalt runway (R-W 18-36) is 4,400 x 75 feet and an FAA-funded environmental study has commened as a prelude to extending that runway to 5,000 feet. There is also one turf runway (R-W 9-27) which is 3,085 x 145 feet. The Airport maintains 30 T-hangers as well as a main hanger, and has self-service high octane gasoline pumps making gas available to credit card users at any time of day or night at affordable prices. Jet fuel service is also available. Air freight carriers frequently pick up and deliver freight at the airpot. Th etelephone number for the airport is 574-772-5001.
South Bend International Airport is located approximately 45 miles northeast of Knox (50 minutes drive time) and has 5 major airlines that fly to and from the airport daily. The runway lengths available there are 8,412 x 150 feet, 4,300 x 75 feet, and 7,100 x 150 feet. The airport also has cargo service. The airport also hosts a Foreign Trade Zone which , in November of 2010, was approved for an Alternative Site Framework which includes Starke County within its service area, thereby greatly shortening the time needed to increase the size of the current zone, or establish a new one. The airport also has a cargo service. The telephone number for the airport is 574-233-2185.
Both O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW) are lcoated within a two hour and fifteen minute drive from Starke County, and Fort Wayne International (FWA), Indianapolis International (IND) and Gary/Chicago International (GYY) are all located between an hour and fifteen minutes up to two hours and fifteen minutes drive from Starke County.
Rail Services: Starke County is served by three railroads including Norfolk Southern, Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern (runs on tracks owned by CSX Transportation), and the Chesapeake & Indiana Railroad. The South Shore Railroad offers passenger service between South Bend and Chicago with several stops within an hour of Starke County.
Ports: The Port of Indiana at Burns Harbor contains approximately 600 acrews along Lake Michgian and is lcoated about one hour from STarke County, easily accessible by several highways. he Port also hosts a Foreign Trade Zone which, in November of 2010, was approved for an Alternative Site Framework which includes Starke County within its service area thereby ggreatly shortening the time needed to increase the size of teh current zone, or establish a new one.
Highways: Starke County is served by U.S. 30 (4-lane limited access freeway), U.S. 35, and U.S. 421, along with State Roads 8, 10, 23, and 39. The County enjoys easy connections with the I-80/I-90 Toll Road, I-65, I-94, and I-69.