In The News

Company plans $6.7M expansion

March 29, 2012  |  Republic Wire expansion West Chester Township

Republic Wire plans to nearly double in size and add 30 jobs.

By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer

5:08 PM Wednesday, March 28, 2012

WEST CHESTER TWP. - A West Chester Twp. company that manufactures copper wire products is proposing a $6.7 million expansion that would nearly double its size and add 30 jobs.

Republic Wire Inc. is seeking an incentive package under the Ohio Enterprise Zone Program to nearly double its present facility located at 5525 Union Centre Drive by an additional 165,000 square feet from its current 200,000 square feet.

Brad Evans, business attraction and expansion manager in the township’s community development department, presented the plan Tuesday to the township’s Board of Trustees, which unanimously approved the enterprise zone agreement. It now must receive approval by the Butler County Commission.

The family-owned company plans to make a minimum capital investment of $6.7 million. That includes the total new real property investment valued at $5 million and an additional $1.7 million in new machinery, and equipment, he said. It would make the company among the larger employers in the township.

“Obviously, our intention is to stay in West Chester, to improve our facilities in West Chester and to be a good partner with West Chester, which I believe we have been since 1994,” said Mark Huelsebusch, vice president of finance for Republic Wire.

Huelsebusch said if the project is approved by the county, the company hopes to begin work on the project in May and complete it in nine months.

The company currently employs 72 people at the location and it plans to create 30 new full-time permanent jobs paying an annual salary of about $35,000.

The township’s Enterprise Zone Committee is recommending an exemption of 60 percent on new real property investment for eight years, said Barb Wilson, the township’s public information and marketing officer.

Evans said the tax exemption also calls for the company to compensate Lakota Local Schools $50,000 annually in new revenue during the agreement and upon completion of it an additional $75,000 annually.