NORWOOD As company shifts to Cincy, city will lose jobs

NORWOOD, Ohio (AP) -- Officials in this Cincinnati suburb say the state may be effectively fighting to keep Convergys Corp. in Ohio, but it has done nothing to stop the company from leaving their city.
The Cincinnati-based billing and marketing giant plans to shift about 300 of the 400 jobs it has in Norwood to downtown Cincinnati under the $131.5 million tax break plan offered by the state.
Cincinnati City Council is considering offering the company an additional $63.4 million in the incentive package.
Convergys brought hundreds of jobs to Norwood about ten years ago as part of a different state incentive package.
Under that agreement, which doesn't expire for six years, Convergys was granted a 50 percent tax break on Norwood taxes on business equipment. In return, it agreed to create 450 jobs and retain 601 positions.
Convergys officials declined to comment on specifics of the deal.
A fight in store
Norwood leaders plan to fight the new plan if Cincinnati approves its share of the incentives. They'll also protest to the state.
Bruce Johnson, director of Ohio Department of Development, said the state had little room to maneuver in the deal. Convergys warned it would close all Cincinnati office buildings and the Norwood call center if the state didn't support its downtown consolidation plan.