Traci Moyer, Daily Reporter staff writer
GREENFIELD - The city is a step closer to landing a company headquarters that could bring as many as 100 new jobs to Greenfield in the next two years.
The company, CMRQualtronics, plans to build a new plant on the northwest corner of New Road and Fortville Pike. The firm will manufacture wiring harnesses, sensors and other components for a variety of engines, including marine power plants.
“This is a coup for Hancock County and Greenfield,” said Ron Pritzke, an attorney for the company. “This is a special opportunity every community would hope for. These are high tech, manufacturing and well paid people.”
The company says its average salary will be about $43,000.
CMRQualtronics appeared before the Greenfield City Council on Thursday night to seek a ruling on its request for a 10-year tax abatement on the 3.3 acres it plans occupy. That request was unanimously granted subject to a public hearing at the next city council meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 15.
“This is an excellent marriage between this company and the city,” Councilman Dick Pasco said. “They are high-tech jobs and no pollution.”
The company will forgo an option to request an abatement on equipment at Pasco’s request. It also promised to hire locally to provide new employment.
“It’s going to be good jobs for the citizens of Greenfield,” Councilman Jason Horning said.
Leeson Investments will be the developer of the new 20,000-square-foot building, which will be leased by the company for at least 10 years. The total investment for the building and equipment is estimated to be $1.4 million.
“Hopefully, it will be a heck of a lot longer than that,” Pritzke said.
CMRQualtronics is being formed from two merging companies. CMR, located in Zelienople Pa., manufactures advanced monitoring and wiring solutions for industrial engines, marine systems, power plants and gas compression. It has operations in eight countries. Qualtronics, located in Columbus, has targeted a specialized market for automobile wiring harnesses.
Together the new company will provide technology and equipment to companies such as Cummins Inc.; Caterpillar Inc.; Dresser Industries-Waukesha Engine; Kimble Mixer; Arvin Meritor; Flowdraulics; General Electric; the U.S. Navy; and Fairbanks Morse.
John Gatto, president of CMRQualtronics, said the equipment that will be manufactured locally and shipped internationally will provide technology for marine propulsion, power plants and gas compression. Company literature says it provides components to the most important shipbuilders in the country.
The new company is estimating employment to be 43 jobs in 2006, 75 jobs in 2007 and 100 jobs by 2008.
“This is exactly the kind of company we are happy to chase in Greenfield,” said Dennis Maloy, executive director of the Hancock Economic Development Council.
Robert Daly, vice president of CMRQualtronics, lives nearby and said Greenfield was a prime location for the new company.
“We will be closer to our customers, and the people in this area have a good work ethic,” he said.
Gatto said the tax abatement on the property was a deciding factor to locate in Greenfield.
“The most important thing to us is the abatement,” he said. “It would have made the difference if we located there or not, because we want to keep our costs down to remain competitive.”