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Electronics maker buying former GM factory in Anderson

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Northwind Electronics LLC will invest $954,000 to buy, renovate and equip a former General Motors factory in Anderson—creating as many as 100 jobs in the next two years, state economic development officials said Tuesday afternoon.

The year-old firm, which makes electrical systems for work vehicles and heavy equipment manufacturers, has agreed to buy Plant 16 from the city of Anderson. It will be the last of three factory buildings to change hands since the city took possession of the automaker’s properties in 2006.

Northwind now employs 10 manufacturing workers, the state said in a news release. Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered up to $475,000 in performance-based tax credits and $22,500 in training grants. Anderson officials also will consider a property tax abatement.

The 168,268-square-foot former GM plant is located about two miles from Interstate 69, according to a real estate listing for the property. The asking price was $350,000.

IBJ reported earlier this month that the property was under contract to an unnamed Indianapolis company. The sale comes just three months after Anderson-based S&S Steel Services Inc. bought GM’s former Plant 20 for $1.5 million.

The city also has 70 acres of vacant land—another former GM site—under contract with an unidentified company from out of state.

"It's great to see new operations coming to this currently vacant facility," Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a prepared statement. "It proves that Anderson and Indiana are competitive places to locate a new venture."

Anderson was once the largest GM town outside of Flint, Mich. When the automaker pulled the plug on the last factory, it turned over three buildings and 180 acres to the city. Much of the vacant land contained factories that GM razed.

An Anderson company, Hy-Tech Machining, bought the former Plant 18 at 2900 Scatterfield Road for $425,000 in 2008. The building is something of a local landmark because of its turquoise exterior.

The city has offered low prices on the GM properties as a lure for growing companies.

Northwind's investment comes as good news to the city, which recently lost out on a bid to land Bright Automotive's tech center. The Anderson-based company chose Michigan for the facility, which could employ as many as 200 workers.

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  • new business in Anderson
    Chuck
    this is the company we had talked about on the conference call Wednesday
    George

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  1. Many serial killer types and psychopaths work as lowly bureaucrats, just waiting to impose their wrath on a powerless person, child, or pet. Don't forget, the BTK killer was a dog catcher.

  2. If a television station wants to improve viewership, get rid of the local blackout. I was born by the brickyard, and have attended 15 or more races. I have children now, I won't attend unless circumstances are perfect. As those with growing families know, they never are. I'm always impressed that upwards of 250,000 people attend the 500. However, as a growing, or, more apt, sprawling city, Indianapolis and its immediate suburbs count almost 2.2 million. Show the race live, let the venue get a kick-back on revenues, and open-wheel racing might have a fighting chance to be relevant again. Just in time for those tax-payer lights to make sense.

  3. John Moore, I too have had the same issue recently. A property next to my house was on the Land Bank and I was interested in purchasing. When I tried to contact Reggie, I got back emails that had nothing to do with what I asked about. Actually my latest response from him was on this past Friday. I had asked about how to buy the property and if it was still available. His response to me was to contact the mayor's office to get the schedule of his appearances. (???) Hopefully the city is able to do something to fix what this guy has done, it would be nice if they would take the properties back and sell them properly so land owners like me and you mother would have a fair chance.

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