TAFT ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES
State Assistance Will Help Create 463 Jobs for Ohioans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft has announced that $1.17 million in Business and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to assist in the growth and development of Ohio businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), were approved by the State Controlling Board today, and are expected to create 463 jobs and retain 2,767 positions.

Clermont County will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of The Midland Company’s expansion of its corporate headquarters in Batavia Township. These improvements include upgrades to the intersection of Midland Boulevard and Bach-Buxton Road. The Midland Company plans to expand its corporate headquarters by construction of a new 205,000 square-foot building, as well as expand its current training center by 19,000 square-feet. The $350,000 roadwork project is expected to assist in the creation of 150 jobs and retention of 839 jobs at Midland.

The Village of LaGrange (Lorain County) will receive a $20,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork in support of Most Significant Bits’ new office and warehouse in the Village’s new business park. This roadwork includes the construction of a 2,000 lineal-foot public roadway into the park grounds from Center Road. Most Significant Bits, an e-commerce software distributor, plans to build a 29,000 square-foot office and warehouse in the new LaGrange Business Park. The $309,304 roadwork project is expected to assist in the creation of 10 jobs and retention of 22 jobs.

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. located in Shawnee Township (Allen County), will receive a $500,000 Business Development Grant to assist with the acquisition of machinery and equipment needed for the company’s expansion of its production facility. General Dynamics is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies, land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions ship building, and marine systems and business aviation. The company plans to expand its presence at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (formerly known as the Lima Army Tank Plant) in order to manufacture the amphibious Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle under contract with the United States Marin Corps. The $14.8 million project is expected to create 210 jobs and retain 494 jobs.

Owens-Illinois STS Levis Park (O-I), Inc., located in the City of Perrysburg (Wood County), will receive a $200,000 Business Development Grant to assist in the completion of infrastructure for new administrative and corporate headquarters. O-I is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of packaging products and is the largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world. O-I plans to build a new administrative facility and renovate three existing buildings. The new building will be approximately 75,000 to 100,000 square feet and the three existing buildings contain approximately 400,000 square feet. The $24.6 million project is expected to retain 884 jobs.

Summit County Port Authority will receive a $250,000 Business Development Grant to assist with an extension of a straight rail line at the Airdock located at Lockheed Martin Corporation’s (Lockheed Martin) Maritime Systems and Sensors facility in Akron. Lockheed Martin will lease the site from the Port Authority to develop and manufacture a lighter-then-air vehicle. Lockheed Martin has received an award from the Unities States Missile Defense Agency for Stage 3, Prototype Build and Launch. The $1.9 million straight rail extension will assist in creating 93 jobs and retaining 528 jobs.

The Business Development Account (412) is a grant program to assist companies and communities that are creating or retaining jobs in Ohio. The Roadwork Development Account (629) provides grant assistance to communities for public highway and road projects related to job creation and retention.