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MIDDLETOWN — Middletown City Council unanimously approved a seven-year, 75 percent state urban jobs and enterprise zone tax abatement for a local company that will help to retain 80 jobs and add 25 more jobs over the next seven years.

City Council approved the emergency ordinance for the abatement on real property only at its Tuesday, Sept. 2 meeting for Interscope Manufacturing Inc., 2901 Carmody Blvd., to assist it with its 8,000-square-foot expansion.

Bill Murphy, city economic development director, said the total investment is about $850,000 and will generate a payroll of a little more than $1 million.

That decision, which still needs approval from the state, will enable the company to proceed with its project.

Interscope is an American Indian-owned business that has been privately held since 1988, according to Murphy's report to council. The company specializes in consumer goods, automotive automation, aerospace, and gas down-hole tooling. It has a staff of engineers, toolmakers, machine-builders and welders. In addition, the company's niche is its ability to machine, weld, test and paint custom-manufactured equipment in-house, according to the report.

'Nice to see orange barrels again'

For most motorists, orange barrels are not a welcome sight. However, City Manager Judy Gilleland said it "will be great to see orange barrels in Middletown again" for proposed projects to widen Lefferson Road between Breiel Boulevard and Cincinnati-Dayton Road, as well as the reconstruction of North Breiel Boulevard between Manchester Road and Riverview Avenue.

The city is seeking $500,000 in Ohio Public Works Commission (Issue 2) funding for the $2 million project on Lefferson; and $567,000 in state funding for the $1.2 million Breiel project.

Gilleland said the project is currently being designed and city officials are trying to determine eliminating some lanes on the North Breiel Boulevard project and have the lanes taper down closer to Manchester Road.

An emergency ordinance was approved by City Council to move forward with the application to the state for both projects.

City Engineer David Duritsch said the city has "a strong project and we're pretty confident that it will come to fruition."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or at erichter@coxohio.com.