Nov. 6--Accuride Corp. is looking at its Erie plant as a possible site for a multimillion-dollar expansion that could create as many as 100 jobs.

Local economic development officials outlined the project Wednesday to Erie City Council, which was asked to designate the potential expansion site as a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone to entice Accuride to select Erie.

The potential expansion site involves about 7 acres and is owned by the Greater Erie Industrial Development Corp. The site, which is directly west of the Accuride plant, is already leased to the company by the GEIDC.

Council members agreed to create the KOEZ there. It must still be approved by the Erie School District and Erie County, and then by the state.

Businesses situated in KOEZ areas receive breaks on taxes, such as local property tax and state corporate net profits tax, among others. The tax breaks would go through 2020.

Larry Bossolt, GEID's senior vice president, said he doesn't foresee the plant expansion occurring without the KOEZ designation.

"This is the major incentive I think we need to make future expansion at the Erie plant possible," he said.

Bossolt said the expansion is in addition to Accuride's $25 million investment in equipment and machinery that has recently been installed and is being ramped up.

The company, which makes wheels for the trucking industry, now has about 165 employees in Erie.

Accuride Corp.'s headquarters is in Evansville, Ind., and the company has about 22 facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Seven of those facilities manufacture or distribute aluminum or steel wheels. The Erie plant as well as a plant in Cuyahoga, Ohio, make aluminum wheels.

Bossolt said GEIDC has been working with the governor's action team on landing the project. He did not have further details.

A company spokeswoman, Eva Schmitz, confirmed that Accuride is looking at a possible expansion at the Erie plant.

"We are currently evaluating different scenarios," she said.

But she said it was "premature" to discuss specifics.

GEORGE MILLER can be reached at 870-1724 or by e-mail.

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