Formal Collaboration Announced for NEI Regional Partnership and OrthoWorx

Fort Wayne and Warsaw, Ind., January 26, 2012 – The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and OrthoWorx announced a formal collaboration today with the Partnership agreeing to join OrthoWorx and OrthoWorx joining the Partnership. This decision was reached after several months of dialogue between the two organizations focused on identifying issues of common interest.

The mutually beneficial alliance will provide OrthoWorx a voice in one of Northeast Indiana’s foremost regional economic development forums and further establish the Partnership as a stakeholder in the orthopedic sector headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana. It will also enable the two organizations to coordinate efforts and strengthen their influence in areas of mutual interest such as education, talent attraction and retention, and transportation.

OrthoWorx is a Warsaw-based organization established to work collaboratively with industry and community stakeholders to build on the region’s strengths to assure that the area continues to be the Orthopedic Capital of the World. The Warsaw region is home to three of the world’s five largest orthopedic companies, as well as a host of related and supporting firms. While Warsaw (Kosciusko County) is not currently within the 10-county region served by the Partnership, the Partnership recognizes the significant impact of the orthopedic industry on the economy of Northeast Indiana and has conducted considerable research on the medical device cluster in order to create the best possible business climate to support private investment.

“The medical device cluster is one of five key industry targets in our region, and we are committed to collaborating with OrthoWorx to continue to support the growth of this vital industry,” said John Sampson, President & CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “It is no surprise that the orthopedic industry has a significant economic impact on our region and by working together with organizations like OrthoWorx, we can leverage our collective efforts and continue to increase the orthopedic ‘footprint’ in Northeast Indiana.”

OrthoWorx cites key factors in joining the Partnership as being the Partnership’s excellent reputation, talented and committed organizational leadership, a track record of demonstrated results and the significance of the Partnership’s mission to the orthopedic sector.

“We have been very impressed with the Partnership’s engagement in Kosciusko County, and in particular with their investment in our community’s success through financial participation in our fundraising efforts for the JumpStart project to further develop entrepreneurial opportunities in our area,” said David Floyd, Chief Executive Officer of OrthoWorx. “Labor, ideas and capital move freely across county lines, so we believe it’s in our best interests to engage in regional alliances that can help us drive our mission. Kosciusko County and Northeastern Indiana are dependent on each other in many ways, so we’re pleased to be formally connecting to the region through the Partnership.”

About OrthoWorx

OrthoWorx (www.orthoworxindiana.com) is a Warsaw-based, industry, community and education initiative established to advance and support growth and innovation within the region’s uniquely concentrated, globally significant orthopedics device sector. Funded in part by the Lilly Endowment, OrthoWorx was founded in 2009 out of a comprehensive study conducted by BioCrossroads. The initiative engages and enhances the broader community interests that both serve and depend upon the sector’s continued growth by targeting an integrated set of educational, workforce, cultural, communication, branding, logistical and entrepreneurial efforts.

About the Partnership

The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was formed in 2006 to help build a globally competitive economy in Northeast Indiana. It is a public-private partnership focused on generating business leads and building regional capacity through product development and effective regional collaboration. In 2010, the Partnership launched Vision 2020 to bring the region together around five key areas for economic growth: 21st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. Through its combined efforts in business development and capacity building, the Partnership supports its 10 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.

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Partnership Media Contact:
Courtney Tritch
Director of Marketing
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
260.469.3460
courtney@NEIndiana.com