By Jessica Kerman
ANDERSON — Nestlé USA announced Tuesday that it would expand its 880,000-square-foot facility in Anderson to more than 1,000,000 square feet, adding 135 jobs to the 300 at the facility in the process.
Gov. Mitch Daniels, U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Indiana, state Rep. Terri Austin, D-36, and state Rep. Scott Reske, D-37, joined Nestlé representatives and Mayor Kris Ockomon for a small conference Tuesday morning at the Anderson factory.
Michael Strong, facility manager, said there were two main reasons why the company decided to expand in Anderson.
“First, it’s a highly technical facility,” he said, explaining that manufacturing lines could be changed quickly.
“Second, we’re really proud of the team we were able to assemble here with a highly skilled work force,” he said.
Also, Strong added, the city of Anderson and the state were willing to work with the company.
Linda Dawson, director of Economic Development, said the city offered a total $13.75 million worth of incentives, and the state offered $1.375 million in incentives plus the construction of a special-use lane that adjoins to the Interstate 69 ramp for trucks to the interstate without going through traffic lights.
Dawson said the city’s portion was well below what a city would normally provide for the amount of company investment.
“The ($13.75 million) is approximately 1 percent of the investment, and most economic development professionals will try to keep the value of the incentive package between 8 and 11 percent of the investment of the company,” she said.
Strong said the expansion would cost the company about $200 million, making the total investment in the property $600 million.
“It’s always fun to do this with Nestlé,” Daniels said as he looked at the NesQuik bunny to his left. “There’s always a little bit of color.”
Daniels said this was the fourth announcement from Nestlé about investment in Indiana in two years — twice in Anderson, once in Greenwood and once in Fort Wayne.
“Nestlé is the kind of company, the kind of people we want in the state,” he said. “This is a global company, and they have a world of choices.”
Ockomon also welcomed the company’s investment.
“Anderson’s on its way up,” he said. “Good things are happening here.”
Nestlé first announced in July 2006 that it was building its $359 million facility. At the end of June this year, the company went before the Anderson Board of Zoning Appeals to request the expansion. Pam Krebs, spokeswoman for Nestlé, said the company looked at other cities for the expansion as well. However, she would not comment on those other locations.
Krebs added that the company was still hiring for its original facility, and it would open positions for the expansion when it is completed near the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010.
Strong said that the plant will continue to produce Coffee-Mate creamer and NesQuik milk, but it could add more products as it expands.
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To apply for a job at Nestlé, go to www.nestlejobs.com
