UTICA — The special council meeting held by the Village of Utica brought a shared optimism to members present when Mayor Larry Friesel spoke with council about the prospect of a new company coming to the former Holophane building.

Friesel recently met with representatives from Catalina Tempering Ohio Inc. and other officials from Licking County to discuss the company’s proposition. Catalina, which has facilities in California, Texas, and North Carolina, manufactures and distributes residential glass products. Their new facility in Ohio would fabricate and distribute energy efficient glass for windows and doors.

During the meeting, Catalina asked officials for an abatement on improvement costs needed to locate the facility to Utica. The abatement would allow exemption on personal property tax on machinery, equipment, inventory, furniture and fixtures, as well as a 15-year exemption on property tax for new construction in the amount of $385,000.

Though the village would lose a percent of the revenue earned from the property tax, Friesel said, “We would still get the taxes on the $500,000 on the purchase cost of the building.”

“This might be our salvation,” said Friesel. “But this is not a done deal yet. The first step is for us to approve this, as well as the school board, vocational school and the county commissioners.”

kenesha.beheler@mountvernonnews.com