PLEASANT PRAIRIE — EMCO Chemical Distributors, Inc., based in North Chicago, Ill., cleared “a big hurdle” this week in its plans to locate a distribution facility in LakeView Corporate Park that could bring 80-125 jobs to the area, EMCO President Edward Polen said Thursday.

The company, which stores, repackages and distributes chemicals for industries throughout the upper Great Lakes region, got unanimous approval from the Plan Commission earlier this week for a conditional use permit.

EMCO currently has 350 to 400 employees and has manufacturing, distribution and laboratory operations in North Chicago, another plant in Columbia, Ill., a warehouse in Minnesota and a waste consolidation facility located in the Business Park of Kenosha.

“What drew us to the area was we were looking for a property with a railroad siding. It also has reasonable proximity to our North Chicago facility,” Polen told the Kenosha News. “We’re not closing North Chicago, we’re expanding. We’re running out of space.”

The company has a contract to buy the 259,580-square-foot building formerly occupied by Lawter International and Hexion Chemical at 8601 95th St. Hexion is its current owner. Polen said before any sale is final, an environmental study and plans need to be reviewed and approved by the state of Wisconsin, but he hopes to close on the property in the first quarter of 2010. The building has room for future expansion, and EMCO will need to have custom equipment installed, Polen said.