The Smith Plan in Action

Walking the Talk

2004-2007 was a time of great gains in Anderson, Indiana – economically, financially, in quality of life, infrastructure upgrades, professional staffing, visionary planning, open government, efficiency and in environmental strides.

The four-year period culminated in two achievements never-before celebrated in Anderson. The city was listed among Forbes magazine’s 100 Best Small Metros for Business and Careers for 2007, and it was named Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

Additional accomplishments included:

Jobs

  • 800+ jobs created 2006 & 2007
  • 62 new businesses – 12 businesses expanded (2006/2007)
  • Job creation exceeded job loss for the first time in 10 years (May 2006)

Tax Cuts

  • Three straight years of tax cuts reduced city portion of the property tax to pre-2004 levels
  • General fund expenditures decreased by millions

Leadership

  • Forbes magazine’s top 100 smaller U.S. metros for business and careers – 2007
  • Indiana Chamber of Commerce Community of the Year – 2007
  • Anderson Rotary Club Community Image Award – 2007
  • Miles of freshly paved streets and sidewalks due to $5+ million investment
  • Beautification (hanging baskets, flowers and plantings on traffic islands)
  • River Bend Park and canoe launch opened in 2004
  • Rangeline Nature Preserve opened to the public in 2004
  • Extreme Skate Park opened in 2007
  • Free wireless internet in six city parks
  • A fiber optic loop encircled the city, providing high-speed connectivity for schools and businesses
  • 418 unsafe structures demolished
  • Industrial eyesores razed and remediated
  • City of Anderson Transit replaced entire fixed route fleet
  • Half of City of Anderson Transit Nifty Lift buses replaced
  • School Resource Officers successfully combated truancy in Anderson Community Schools by 18 to 20 percent in first semester!
  • SROs increase truancy referrals in 2005 by more than 200 percent
  • $10.35 million received from federal government for projects, 2004-2007
  • The first Comprehensive Plan for the City of Anderson in more than 40 years set the stage for future economic growth
  • A new state of the art radio system delivered public safety communications to every corner of the city
  • Beautification of city entryways included 13+ properties demolished and beautified along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor