New York Times: "Scent of Success is in the Air" of Greencastle

March 27, 1988

March 27, 1988, Greencastle, Ind. - "We've proven that this community is attractive without IBM," DePauw University President Robert G. Bottoms is quoted in today's New York Times. "I think that surprised a lot of people." The article, "Reinventing A Company Town," examines how Greencastle has bounced back from the November 11, 1986 decision by International Business Machines Corporation -- the city's largest employer -- to close its parts distribution center and move its 985 jobs elsewhere.

"As Greencastle got cracking on its problems, it realized its location was an advantage," writes the Times' N.R. Kleinfeld. "Several Japanese auto companies had put plants close by in recent years. Accordingly, the town looked attractive to auto-service companies and many other businesses looking for low cost settings."

While the loss of jobs had a ripple effect -- the story details how Peace Lutheran Church lost 30% of its congregation, "The church organist was let go, and David Ott, a DePauw professor, agreed to play for free" -- Greencastle rebounded quickly. Kleinfeld notes, "In just over a year, the town had attracted six new companies, three of them Japanese-American ventures. Within two years they are expected to employ more than 1,200 workers at a payroll of $20 million. About 200 people have been hired so far."

The piece, which also quotes David Murray, DePauw's admission director, concludes, "A small town was rattled to its foundations by something bad it didn't think could happen. But now the scent of success is in the air."

Source: New York Times

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