Local leaders are applauding news this week of a motel development in Ironton, while a real estate developer involved in the project is applauding the local cooperation that made the project a reality.

Commercial Development LLC announced plans Tuesday plans for a new 7-acre shopping/dining complex along Park Avenue and Ninth Street. The centerpiece will be a 80 to 100-room Hampton Inn surrounded by as yet unnamed restaurants.

Local business and government leaders said the proposed project is a shot in the arm that the local economy has long needed.

"I remain encouraged by the continued growth and development and interest given to the City of Ironton," Ironton Mayor John Elam said. "The jobs created are projected to be between 100 and 200. That is good news we can all share. We look forward to having the Hampton Inn and other businesses and shops to welcome people off the

52/93 interchange and into the City of Ironton."

Ironton Business Association vice-president Rich Patrick agreed. "I believe anytime you can bring more traffic - good traffic - to Ironton, it helps all the surrounding businesses, gas stations, stores, it helps them all. It's good. We've needed this for a long time."

Patrick recalled that some acts booked for this summer's Ironmaster Days were sent out of town for lodging because there was none in Ironton.

Jim Wente, owner of Bert's Pets Center, also welcomed news of new business locating in the city.

He said he had not heard about the proposed development until he briefly read the front page of The Ironton Tribune. "It sounds like a big investment," Wente said. "I'm pleased."

Developers took their plans to the Tuesday meeting of the Lawrence County Commission, where the new project was given unqualified endorsement.

"I'd like to express my appreciation to everyone who worked so diligently to bring this about," Lawrence County Commissioner George Patterson said. "We all know we need the jobs and Ironton needs the income. This project will help a lot of people."

"This is a win/win situation for everyone and those are the best ones," Lawrence County Commissioner Jason Stephens said.

"One of the things I think it will do is open up tourism opportunities for the Wayne National Forest. If we can have a nice hotel with some businesses there it could help tourism. It's exciting."

Real estate agent Robert Craycraft in turn praised local people involved for their "forward approach" to getting things done. "I do these things all over Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and when dealing with public projects I've never, never had people cooperate to the extent that people in this city and this county have cooperated with me. It would have been a six-to-eight-year project without your help."

The project will bring as many as 200 new jobs to the area. Craycraft projected that it should add approximately 10 percent to property values in the area.

It will replace an estimated $450,000 in current property values with approximately $12,500,000 in new tax values, according to a prepared statement from developers.

The motel will include conference facilities with a kitchen, giving area groups a place to plan lengthy meetings with meal accommodations. "This is not a standard Hampton Inn project, but after researching Ironton, we realized that everyone

around here really needed a conference facility," Craycraft said.

The development will be situated on a 7-acre site that now includes, along with residential and commercial properties, the Dennis Boll Group and Shelter Home and the Lawrence County Engineer's Office road garage. Stephens said county leaders are looking at other sites for the group home.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has moved its Lawrence County operations into new headquarters on S. Third Street, and state officials have turned over the keys to the old state garage on S. Sixth Street to county officials for use by the county road crews.