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$24M will keep West Chester Twp. business here, help expand operations

With help from the state, engineering and design company will expand operations in southwest Ohio.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 10:44 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Intelligrated Systems Inc. is staying.

During an event with Gov. Ted Strickland, company officials Tuesday, Nov. 3, accepted a package from the state worth more than $24 million to keep operations in southwest Ohio.

Strickland — along with Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel — met with Intelligrated Systems Inc. CEO Chris Cole at the company’s 10045 International Blvd. location to formalize the deal.

Cole said the company had been courted by Kentucky to close the West Chester Twp. operations and move south. Part of the reason Intelligrated decided to stay here was the flexibility the state gave the company in deciding where to locate 267 positions it plans to create within the next three years. Ohio’s infrastructure and transportation access was also a draw, Cole said.

“I’m very pleased to say we are here to celebrate the future of this plant,” he said.

Strickland spoke highly of Intelligrated, noting that “Ohio’s success is linked to the success of companies like Intelligrated.”

He also emphasized the state’s push to grow its logistics and distribution operations, as he believes these industries “will create the jobs of the future.”

Intelligrated Inc. designs, engineers and installs unit material handling systems and programs, such as conveyor belts and software, for companies involved in logistics, retail distribution and consumer products. Its clients include UPS, Procter & Gamble and Home Depot.

Cole said despite expected flat growth in 2010 in the national economy, he expects his company will experience an uptick in the next year, allowing it to add about 100 jobs to the state. Some of that will come from moving manufacturing operations from Intelligrated’s Danville, Ky., plant to Ohio, he said.

The state incentive package offer to Intelligrated included a 75 percent job creation tax credit for 10 years from the state department of development to support the company’s expansion projects in West Chester Twp., Mason and London, Ohio. The credit was valued at $1.53 million and requires the company to maintain operations in Ohio for 13 years. The project cost is $13.3 million and is expected to create 267 new jobs and retain 537 others.

Currently, Intelligrated has 140 production jobs and 170 office positions in West Chester Twp. and 215 executive and office positions at its Mason headquarters.

In addition, the state also approved more than $8 million in loans to the Butler County Port Authority, including $1.5 million for a 166 Direct Loan, a $1.5 million for a Research and Development Investment Loan and a $5.6 million for a loan from the Ohio Enterprise Bond Fund to acquire a 282,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to be leased to Intelligrated so it can shore up more capital.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

»See a photo gallery from Gov. Strickland’s visit to West Chester Twp. online at Journal-News.com

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I am happy that i get to keep my job. It a great company to work for. I am also happy that our building in london is gonna be expanded. We need the room

Chris V
12:35 AM, 11/9/2009

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It simply means no points for lay offs. We hope the expansion will bring a lot of jobs.

Regards,
http://www.mantisgardentiller.com

Garden Tiller
8:32 PM, 11/7/2009

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im sure thoes guys who work there are very happy they get to keep their jobs and im glad for them.

gary
6:05 PM, 11/4/2009

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What a way for Ted to buy votes. Taking a tip from Obama the wording is "expected to create or retain", which is another way of saying nobody will verify the numbers and once the money and jobs are gone, they'll blame Bush.

see ya
12:10 PM, 11/4/2009

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Businesses don't flee, they are stolen by lucrative back stabbing offers from other states and countries. We get taxed to death to pay corporate welfare and make CEOs rich and they in turn do the same to their shareholders. Greed is not good; it's killing this country. Nothing will be done until the rich and powerful feel the sting of poverty and loss.

Jeffrey John Hodapp
6:55 PM, 11/3/2009

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