TAFT ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES
Department of Development Grants Will Help Create 155 Jobs for Ohioans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2004

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that $965,000 in Business and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to three companies and three communities. The grants are intended to assist in the growth and development of Ohio businesses and the creation and retention of jobs. These projects are expected to create 155 positions and retain 1,113 jobs over the next three years.

“I am spending my energy on creating jobs and I’m pleased that the State of Ohio can assist these companies and communities in their growth and development,” Taft said. “I’m confident that these projects will result in economic success for these firms and communities, and good jobs for Ohioans.”

Wendy’s International, Inc., located in Dublin (Franklin County), will receive a $150,000 Business Development grant to help defray the cost of acquiring approximately $9.2 million in new machinery and equipment as part of the company’s corporate headquarters expansion. The expansion will include a 16,000 square-foot addition to its current 235,000 square-foot facility. In addition, Wendy’s will upgrade existing machinery and equipment within the headquarters facility as well as acquire equipment to accommodate its new jobs. Additionally, the City of Dublin will receive a $500,000 Roadwork Development grant to defray the cost of approximately 2,990 lineal feet of new roadway construction related to Wendy’s corporate headquarters expansion. The project includes a 2,990 lineal-foot extension of Shamrock Boulevard, which is the primary roadway used to access Wendy’s headquarters facility. The extension will alleviate traffic congestion in and out of Wendy’s by connecting Shamrock Boulevard to Village Parkway, Tuller Road and Sawmill Road. The extension will consist of a three-lane roadway for approximately 2,160 lineal feet and five lanes for approximately 830 lineal feet. The more than $20 million project is expected to create 50 jobs and retain 709 positions. The State has also provided a 55 percent, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit valued at $728,323 and a $250,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant for this project.

Dayton Technologies, located in Monroe (Butler County), will receive a $50,000 Business Development grant to acquire and install machinery and equipment necessary in the development of a new product line. The company produces vinyl window systems and vinyl/composite decks and rails. Ohio was in competition with facilities in Delaware, New Jersey and Arkansas for this $7 million project, which is expected to create 45 jobs and retain 348 positions. The State has also provided a 55 percent, eight-year Job Creation Tax Credit valued at $191,844 and a $25,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant for this project.

McDermott Industries, LLC, located in McDermott (Scioto County), will receive a $25,000 Business Development grant to help defray the costs associated with the extension of a rail spur located at the project site. McDermott Industries, LLC, produces and sells railroad cross ties, poplar peelers to be used in the manufacturing of plywood, wood chips for paper, graded lumber to be sold at the local mill and to be used for pallets. The close proximity of the railroad to the project site has made is possible to bring lumber at reasonable costs and thereby ship finished materials back to the customer. The $864,500 project is expected to create 25 jobs and retain six positions at the project site.

Village of Richwood, located in Union County, will receive a $40,000 Business Development grant to help defray the costs associated with the extension of approximately 1,100 lineal feet of water and sanitary sewer lines to the proposed site of Midwest Acoust-A-Fiber’s new manufacturing operation in the Richwood Industrial Park. Midwest’s expansion project represents the first tenant in the Richwood Industrial Park. Midwest produces fiberglass insulation and acoustical products primarily for the automotive industry. Its headquarters, and the majority of its manufacturing operations are currently located in Delaware, Ohio, and will be unaffected by the Richwood expansion. The $3.2 million project is expected to create 35 jobs. The State has also provided Midwest with a $15,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant for this project.

City of Whitehall, located in Franklin County, will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development grant to help defray the cost of constructing 1,750 lineal feet of new roadway to develop the Hyland Industrial Park. The project includes the 650 lineal-foot extension of an existing roadway off of Poth Road in Whitehall and the construction of 1,100 lineal feet of new roadway within the industrial park. The primary factor driving the construction of this park is the need for “ready-to-go” industrially developable land in Whitehall that will provide quality space for current and new businesses to grow. The $862,000 project is expected to retain 50 jobs.

The grants are administered by the Ohio Department of Development. According to Ohio Development Director Bruce Johnson, the Business Development Account is a grant program to assist companies and communities that are creating or retaining jobs with the necessary infrastructure improvements needed to ensure a project moves forward. The Roadwork Development Account provides grant assistance to communities for highway and road projects related to job creation and retention. It is funded with gas tax dollars and is restricted to public road projects only.