The Anderson Story

In 2004, Mayor Kevin Smith took office in Anderson, Indiana. The city had been severely impacted by the global economy, losing almost 30,000 manufacturing jobs over 25 years. Factories had been shuttered and citizens were in despair. The priority of the administration came down to one word: Jobs! New jobs were what Anderson needed and that was the focus, but how?

A new aggressive Outside Sales approach was created to assure a comprehensive strategy for creating new jobs. Lead Climber LLC was hired to proactively market and sell the City of Anderson.

In four years of service, the results were eye-popping with new investment and over 2,000 new jobs created:

• Nestle is building a 1 million SF plant with 450 new jobs a $400 Million investment!
• Mancor purchased a facility, announcing 85-130 new jobs!
• NorthStar Aerospace - 100 new jobs and millions in equipment!
• Affiliated Computer Services - 500-700 new jobs and millions in equipment!
• Altairnano Technologies - 150 new jobs and $6 million in equipment!
• DZL Manufacturing - 50 new jobs and millions in equipment!
• Monday Brothers purchased a facility and 80 new jobs!
• Muhlen Sohn (MSI) purchased a facility and 50 new jobs and $10 million in investment!
• Hoosier Park launched its Racino adding 500+ jobs and $150 million in investment!
• Prairie Farms Dairy expanded, adding 25 new jobs and millions in equipment!
• Anderson Tool & Engineering expanded, adding 25 new jobs and millions in equipment!
• Continental Inc. expanded, adding 30 new jobs and thousands in equipment
• HDP Home Products expanded, adding 50 new jobs and millions in equipment
• Taditel expanded, adding 15 new jobs and thousands in equipment
• Ertl Enterprises located in Anderson, adding 30 new jobs and thousands in equipment

Over 2,000 new jobs and $600 Million in investment in 4 years!

Anderson was named the 2007 Community of the Year by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce and listed as one of the best 100 cities for small business by Forbes Magazine.