justin.schneider@heraldbulletin.com

INDIANAPOLIS — As the opening piano riff of Van Halen’s “Right Now” faded into the background, Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith accepted the angular glass trophy and stepped to the podium.

“I like to refer to Anderson as the greatest city in the state of Indiana, no offense to Mr. Ballard,” Smith said, referring to Indianapolis Mayor-elect Greg Ballard. “We are second-to-none with our innovation.”

Last month, the Indiana Chamber named Anderson its Community of the Year. The group honored Anderson and two other award-winners Thursday during its 18th annual Awards Dinner at the Indiana Convention Center.

Before the presentation, a short film on the resurgence of Anderson was played on two large screens at either side of the banquet hall. A voice-over told of Anderson’s link with the automotive industry and the fallout of its departure.

“We began, much as the movie indicated, as a city with little hope,” Smith said. “But we took inventory of our assets four years ago, and we recruited a skilled group of people. I can’t take any credit for this.”

The film then shifted to a rundown of economic accomplishments reached during Smith’s administration, including the Nestlé manufacturing and bottling facility, the growth at the Flagship Enterprise Center and Forbes magazine’s endorsement of Anderson as one of the 100 best small places for business and careers.

“The city of Anderson has been a great partner to this administration as we’ve added jobs,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said. “It was hit as hard as any Indiana city during the manufacturing transition.”

Keith Trent of Community Hospital and Dr. James Edwards, president of Anderson University, lent their voices to the film, which also touched on Anderson University’s Falls School of Business, Hoosier Park, Anderson Speedway, the Paramount Theatre Centre and the Anderson Center for the Arts.

The presentation must have been bittersweet for Smith, who lost the mayor’s office to Kris Ockomon in Tuesday’s general election. Nevertheless, he touted the progress Anderson has made and invited the assembled business community to consider investing in the city.

“Infrastructure has been absolutely key to our success: infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure,” Smith said. “We’ve been efficient in our growth and for three years in a row, the city of Anderson has reduced its municipal tax rate.”

Smith mentioned Northstar Aerospace, Mancor, AltairNano and Affiliated Computer Services as further successes not reviewed in the video presentation. He said that 1,000 new jobs had been created in Anderson during the past 24 months.

“From the private sector perspective, you’ve given us a great lift,” Edwards said. “Sincerely, thank you.”

Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard was presented with the award for Government Leader of the Year and Niel Ellerbrook, president and CEO of Vectren Corp., was named Business Leader of the Year. Martin Luther King III was the keynote speaker.