Mount Airy residents have a chance to comment Thursday night on incentives for a new industry, but without knowing much about the company proposed to receive them.

A local desire to maintain political protocol at the state level will keep the name of that manufacturer secret for the foreseeable future, Mayor Jack Loftis said Monday.

“Since the state is involved in providing some of the incentives as well, we have to play that political game and let the state be the one to make that announcement,” the mayor explained.

Up to now, little information has been released about the company, which is eyeing a site in Piedmont Triad West Industrial Park for a facility that would employ 45 people.

The economic-development project was first disclosed publicly on Aug. 20 after the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners held a closed session lasting about 90 minutes. The board voted that night to set a public hearing for this Thursday, a legal requirement regarding the plan to offer incentives totaling $472,178 to the industry using taxpayers’ money.

In addition to the sum targeted by the city — which includes land valued at $272,000 and other amenities — the county government will consider an incentive package of its own, Surry Commissioner Paul Johnson said last week. The county commissioners’ next meeting is scheduled Tuesday.

Local incentives generally include tax breaks calculated over a five-year period, in addition to land and other considerations. In this case, Mount Airy also is offering to waive permits and fees relating to rezoning and utilities.

“As soon as we agree to provide these incentives and the county does the same thing and we get an indication from the company that it’s acceptable, that it’s a go-deal, then we’ll go public,” the mayor said.

Loftis indicated that Mount Airy is obligated to take that route as far as naming the company due to the fact state incentives are involved and the municipality doesn’t want to risk jeopardizing similar incentives in the future. “So we kind of have to just sit tight and let them be the ones to do that,” he added of officials in Raleigh announcing a successful recruitment project.

Thursday’s public hearing is scheduled near the start of a city commissioners meeting that begins at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building.

Along with hiring 45 people between 2009 and 2012, the unnamed company considering locating in the industrial park would provide a combined building and personal property investment of $5.6 million from 2011-13, according to a document released on Aug. 20.

The mayor said Monday that if the industry failed to live up to its part of the bargain, the land would go back to the city.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.