Tuesday Nestlé broke ground for their new factory and distribution center that will bring 300 jobs to Anderson. They also held a "Taste of Nestlé" festival downtown where thousands turned out for the entertainment and free samples of Nestlé products.

It was like Willy Wonka’s fantastic chocolate factory come to life and transplanted to Anderson’s Towne Center Park.
With a giant slingshot, two huge inflatable slides, and yes, Willy Wonka himself, the Taste of Nestlé festival brought out crowd unseen since Anderson’s General Motors heyday.

Is this thing on?
Work on the new electric substation that will power the Nestle Corp. factory and distribution center began Monday as the Anderson Board of Public Works took bids for two substation transformers.

Long before Nestle agreed to nestle near Interstate 69’s Exit 22, the city of Anderson had done preliminary studies on the drainage, water and sewer capacities near The Flagship business park, said Board of Public Works Chairman Rob Sparks.

With a $46 million incentive package attached, Anderson’s new Nestle Corp. project may sound like a costly proposition.

Nestle’s building plan bodes well for local contractors. In a statement released Tuesday, Nestle stated that local contractors will be utilized whenever possible in the construction process of the new facility. Groundbreaking is expected in August with an anticipated opening in the spring of 2008.

The announcement Monday of Nestle Corp.’s intention to build its largest U.S. plant in Anderson appears to be a windfall for the city.
But it’s also a good deal for Nestle.

The economic development effort that is bringing a $359 million investment and nearly 300 jobs to Anderson from Nestlé USA was realized through a coordinated effort between the city of Anderson, the Anderson/Madison County Corporation for Economic Development (CED) and the State of Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC).
 
Anderson Mayor Kevin S. Smith said a "blind" lead came more than a year ago to CED from IEDC with the code name "Project Echo". Representatives of Nestlé were searching for sites that would best suit their client. When 190 acres adjacent to the Flagship Enterprise Center at I-69 Exit 22 were identified, CED acted to acquire options on the necessary property.

GLENDALE, Calif. (July 10, 2006) - Nestlé has selected a 190-acre site in Anderson, Ind., where it will build a $359 million, 880,000 sq. ft. factory and distribution center.
 
The facility, located approximately 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis, will produce NESTL…® NESQUIK® Ready-to-Drink (RTD) and NESTL…® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid products. The combined facility will initially employ nearly 300 employees (hourly and salaried combined). Construction will begin later this year, with an anticipated opening in the spring of 2008.