Nestlé has selected a 190-acre site in Anderson, Ind., where it will build a $359 million, 880,000 square foot factory and distribution center. The facility, located approximately 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis, will produce NESTLÉ NESQUIK Ready-to-Drink (RTD) and NESTLÉ 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.

“Nestlé is committed to providing consumers with the best-tasting, nutritionally superior beverages, wherever and whenever they want them,” said Rob Case, President, Beverage Division, Nestlé USA. “This new facility will enable us to greatly expand our production and distribution capabilities, thereby allowing us to better serve our consumers.”

Steve Presley, Vice President and General Manager, Ready-to-Drink Beverages, Nestlé USA, headed the site selection committee and said that Nestlé chose Anderson, Ind., due primarily to its central location and the feeling that its welcoming environment would be a good place for Nestlé employees and their families to live.

“We are deeply appreciative to the State of Indiana and the City of Anderson for working with us during the evaluation period and making this announcement possible,” said Presley. “We look forward to being a good neighbor to the people of Anderson and to all of Indiana.”

Nestlé will begin accepting applications for employment in 2007.

"While we considered several potential locations for our new facility, Anderson, Ind., was an obvious choice for Nestlé," said Rob Case, President, Beverage Division, Nestlé USA. "From the very beginning of our discussions with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, it was evident to us that Indiana is a very business-friendly state. Its central location and established transportation infrastructure will be great assets for our distribution center. Also, we were pleased with Indiana's talented and diverse work force."

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 Corp. (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.

The city of Anderson’s ownership of its power, water and sewer utilities, plus a fiber optic network, allowed it great flexibility in compiling its incentive package.

“Multiple city administrators worked countless hours to compile the city’s incentive package,” said Mayor Smith.

Groundbreaking for the Nestlé factory and distribution center is expected in August. The company has said that anticipated opening is spring of 2008.

The IEDC and the city of Anderson worked together to provide an incentive package that will assist the company. The IEDC-offered incentives include up to $250,000 in training grants, up to $550,000 in infrastructure assistance to the local community and approximately $7 million in tax credits based on job creation and capital investment.

The city will provide incentives in the form of tax abatements and infrastructure assistance.

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