ANDERSON — Greg Winkler’s contract with the city of Anderson as economic development director has been extended for two years.
The Anderson Board of Public Works approved the two-year extension on Tuesday.
The contract is with Winkler’s company, Lead Climber LLC. Winkler will be paid $144,000 per year, the same as the 2017 contract with the administration of Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr.
Winkler was working on a one-year contract in both 2016 and 2017.
Broderick said Thursday there was no reason not to extend the contract for two years.
“We have a good working relationship,” Broderick said of Winkler. “The contract extension is through the end of my term as mayor.”
Winkler served in the position for Republican Mayor Kevin Smith from 2012 through 2015. He was retained by Democrat Broderick starting in January 2016.
During the past year Winkler has negotiated agreements bringing several new businesses to Anderson.
NTK Precision Axle is constructing a $98 million facility that will eventually employ 192 people.
Italpollina is investing $9 million in a production facility at the Flagship Center East that will employ 35 people. The company is planning to make a $6 million investment which would double the size of the facility.
Interstate Warehousing last week announced a $30 million investment at the Flagship Enterprise Center that will create 60 jobs. The company plans to eventually have a cold storage facility in Anderson that will employ 200 people.