City and county commissioners on Thursday were tentatively supportive of a tax-abatement request from a high-end Helena aerospace manufacturing firm.

Summit Aeronautics Group and BHAM Development have asked officials to forgive a total of $894,500 in local commercial and equipment taxes over the next decade. Summit is investing about $9.8 million in new equipment, and BHAM is expanding Summit's facility near the Helena Regional Airport in a building project costing about $4.3 million.

Summit officials say the expansions will produce about 50 new jobs in Helena over the next five years, with salaries averaging $38,832.

City and county commissioners will hold public hearings on the request next month. The abatement would forgive 50 percent of taxes in the first five years before it's reduced by 10 percent in each of the following years.

Commissioners said they're on-board with the request.

"This is the model for what we're talking about" in economic development discussions, County Commissioner Ed Tinsley said. He noted employees at Summit work in high-tech, high-paid jobs that have little impact on local resources. "We're fortunate to have Summit in our community."

"I think we ought to do it," Mayor Jim Smith agreed.

Summit's clients include Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Kawasaki and other big names.

Much of its business and competition is located across the country and around the world, company officials said.

"It is very important for us to stay as competitive as possible," Summit President Tom Hoffman said. Taxes on business equipment can be the "difference between making money and losing money."

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com.