One of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial bolting tools may open a facility in North Huntingdon.

The township commissioners and Norwin school directors have cleared the way for Bolttech Inc. to build a manufacturing plant on the undeveloped site of the former Maple Drive-in theater off Route 30 West.

The commissioners last week approved a resolution creating an ordinance to give Bolttech a five-year exemption from real property taxes, plus another five years of structured tax levies, under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act.

School directors approved a similar LERTA resolution Monday night.

Approval by the Westmoreland County Department of Community Development is not required, according to John Wilson, school district business manager.

Bolttech officials appear to be considering several municipalities for expansion.

Michael Turley, North Huntingdon's interim manager, said, "Our action provides an incentive that makes the township's position more competitive with other municipality options the company may be considering."

This LERTA tax abatement applies to nearly 15 acres owned by developer Robert W. Shuster and located adjacent to an 84-acre site that houses the township public works complex.

Mr. Shuster originally owned the entire site of the former theater. He sold 84 acres to the township six years ago.

According to the new township ordinance, Bolttech would be required to begin construction of a plant on Mr. Shuster's property within nine months or the abatement will expire. A facility could create 100 to 150 jobs.

"New jobs. That's the big thing," said Robert Perkins, president of the Norwin school board. "Hopefully, Bolttech will hire mostly local people, which would be a boost to the Norwin community."

Bolttech's world headquarters is on Riverside Drive in West Newton. The 28-year-old company also has seven facilities in other states and one in China.

Bolttech representatives approached the commissioners about possible expansion at a public meeting last spring.

Commissioner Lee Moffatt has been pushing to rezone properties that would stimulate industrial development. Bolttech's consideration of expanding into North Huntingdon apparently is a result of those efforts.

Mr. Wilson said tax abatements are not new in the Norwin district. "Offhand, I can think of about eight or nine," he said. "There were several between 1995-99, and a few since."

Mr. Perkins noted that "LERTA was used by the county Department of Community Development to successfully attract industries to the industrial park along Colonial Manor Road in the township."

Westmoreland County property assessors would assign a zero (100 percent abatement) assessment to the new plant for five years, then increase that levy by 15 percent each year until there is a full assessment.

Neighboring Irwin may soon be asked to consider offering LERTA incentives to attract investors and businesses to participate in the revitalization of the borough's downtown business district.

During his year-end progress report in February, Main Street manager Donn Henderson said the Irwin Project Steering Committee plans to seek LERTA property tax relief as an incentive to revitalize properties.