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Annual Report for Madison County: Business & Industry | The Herald Bulletin
Don Knight / The Herald Bulletin
E-ons wind turbines multiplied in 2012 with phase two set to begin.
A ‘phenomenal’ year for jobs growth By Baylee Pulliam The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON — Anderson’s dusting off its “Help Wanted” sign. Last year, it secured commitments from big companies looking to add an estimated 1,110 new local jobs and spend a total of $217,078,350 for development. “I think this represents a reversal of trends in Anderson and Madison County,” said Mayor Kevin Smith. “It shows we can market ourselves, that we have marketable qualities.” Many of the commitments came from manufacturers, such as Green Tire Reclamation, Echo Drive and major Honda plastic components supplier Greenville Technology, Inc., which broke ground on its 150,000-square-foot facility — a $21,500,000 capital investment — in the
At a glance Building permits filed in Madison County in 2012. Total permits filed: 346 Residential permits: 115 Total additions: 38 New homes: 26 Modular homes: 4 Swimming pools: 12 SOURCE: Madison County Planning Commission Flagship Enterprise Center business park in July, promising to bring 325 new jobs. That facility opened in January of this year. Other commitments came from companies already in Anderson, such as Nestle USA, which promised to expand on its current facilities — a $166,270,000 capital
investment, on top of an added 104 jobs. While some jobs would be transferred from the companies’ current facilities, some said they’d give locals first priority. In March, Hy-Pro filtrations operations manager Aaron Hoeg promised to give locals first crack at the 107 jobs it plans to bring to Anderson. The surge of jobs announcements has a lot to do with hard work and the city’s “great team” of economic developers, said city economic development head Greg Winkler. But luck has absolutely nothing to do with it. “Luck favors those who are prepared,” he said. “We were prepared.” When a company wants to move in, the city asks how much of an investment — jobs, property, capital — it intends to make. The city grades its incentives package
accordingly, such as the $3,250,000 in tax increment financing funds allocated for GTI. All told, the city approved $21,426,421 in incentives last year. If the company falls dramatically short of its projections, the city will seek reimbursement, Winkler said. But as far as he’s concerned, “2012 was a great year, really phenomenal. I know we’re all really hoping and praying we can repeat that in 2013.” Not only did Anderson add jobs, but “we kept the ones we had,” Smith said — 1,152 of them, in fact. “There’s loyalty to the city and Madison County,” he said. “It shows they think we have potential. There’s a future here.” Find Baylee Pulliam on Facebook, @ BayleeNPulliam on Twitter or call 6484250.