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Photo provided by CITY OF BRANSON
Photo provided by CITY OF BRANSON

Branson economic development director takes same job in Ill.

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Garrett Anderson, the city of Branson’s economic development director, has taken the same job in Woodstock, Ill.

Anderson, who started in the Branson position in June 2009, will serve his last day Sept. 4, according to a news release.

Branson City Administrator Bill Malinen said he plans to hire a communications staff member as soon as possible and would have discussions with the Board of Aldermen on how best to fill Anderson’s economic development duties.

“Economic development is such a diverse field, with so many specialties. We need to take some time with our board and other community organizations, such as the Taney County Partnership, and the chamber and CVB, to identify where our needs are moving forward,” Malinen said in the release.

In the meantime, economic development inquires will be fielded by the city’s Planning & Development Department.

In Woodstock, Anderson becomes economic development director Sept. 8.

Anderson, who worked as planning and community development director for Centralia, Ill., before coming to Branson, said the decision to take the new job was prompted by his family.

“I’ll be taking my family back to Illinois - closer to family and closer to my parents,” he said in the release.

After taking the Branson role in 2009, he assumed the duties of the communications director in 2012, shortly before the Leap Day tornado hit the city. He helped guide the city through the Great Recession, and notes sales, tourism receipts and building permits have risen, as well as investment by businesses and employers and interest in the city’s downtown area.

“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve the citizens and stakeholders of Branson,” Anderson said in the release. “I have attempted to discharge my responsibilities in a fair and transparent way. I appreciate the confidence and support that you and the Board of Aldermen have given me over the past six years.”

As economic development director of Woodstock - which has a a population of roughly 25,000 - Anderson succeeds Cort Carlson, who exited in May to take a job as executive director of the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in Aurora, Ill., according to a separate release.

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