City’s $250,000 in Backing Persuades Firm to Stay : Anaheim: Micro Technology Inc. had been bound for Nevada. A 130,000-square-foot building is planned for the company, which had $105 million in ’91 sales.

A computer firm that had considered moving part of its operation and 100 jobs to Nevada for cheaper land and labor has agreed to remain in the city after getting financial backing for expansion plans from the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

The agency’s agreement with Micro Technology Inc., a computer systems management and manufacturing firm that reported $105 million in sales last year, is believed to be the first of its kind to keep a manufacturing company from leaving the city, officials said.

“We just didn’t want to see them go,” said Elisa Stipkovich, the agency’s executive director.

Under the agreement approved Tuesday night, the city-run agency will provide financial backing valued at $250,000 for the construction of a 130,000-square-foot building near the intersection of La Palma and Lakeview avenues.

In return, the company has committed to remain at the location for at least 10 years, participate in a city-sponsored job-training program and use the new building as its chief point of sales--a bid to bolster Anaheim’s lagging sales tax revenues.

Because of higher local real estate and labor costs, Micro Technology President Steven J. Hamerslag said the company had considered moving its manufacturing branch to Carson City or Las Vegas.

“We considered it long and hard,” Hamerslag said. “What the (city) did was really counter an anti-business climate. It was a breath of fresh air to have the city not just pay lip service to business development but actually do something about it. We’re excited about it.”

Hamerslag said the company, which employs 300 people, has had headquarters at 5065 E. Hunter Ave. for the past three years and has been growing larger each year.

It manufactures computer storage systems and tape libraries and provides computer network management services.

Richard Bruckner, the agency’s redevelopment and economic development manager, called the agreement “a reflection of what other cities are doing to maintain good, clean industry in their areas.”

Bruckner said: “Micro Technology had been contacted by other states. There are states and cities advertising on the radio about their cheap land and labor. The land here is relatively higher than in other areas and was out of the budget of what they wanted to spend.

“If you could profile the ideal company to keep in Anaheim, this would be it. No one is making a killing at the public’s expense.”

Bruckner said the city-administered agency did “extensive research” about the company before agreeing and believes that the city will benefit from its growth in possible job opportunities and annual sales.

“The city definitely wants to keep this kind of business,” Bruckner said.