TAFT ANNOUNCES ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES
State Grants and Loan Will Help Create 459 Jobs for Ohioans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft has announced that $350,000 in state assistance has 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 and approved by the State Controlling Board today, are expected to create 459 jobs and retain 1,506 positions.

American Security Insurance Company (American Security) will receive a $25,000 Business Development Grant for the acquisition of machinery and equipment for the expansion of its hazard insurance processing center in Springfield (Clark County). American Security is a provider of property and casualty insurance coverage. The project will involve the renovation and expansion of the company’s three building campus in order to increase business capacity. The $1.15 million investment by the company is expected to assist in the creation of 200 new jobs and the retention of 1,200 jobs.

Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc. (DHI) will receive a $200,000 Business Development Grant to be used for the acquisition of machinery and equipment for DHI’s new operations center in Athens (Athens County). DHI develops and manufactures systems for clinical diagnosis of infectious and autoimmune diseases. The company will use the new location for bio-manufacturing, including clean room operations, distribution and administration. The $2 million investment by the company in machinery and equipment along with the land and building investment by the Athens County Port Authority of $6.5 million is expected to assist in the creation of 100 jobs and the retention of 140 jobs. Ohio was in competition with West Virginia for this project.

Donatos Pizzeria, LLC, located in Gahanna (Franklin County), will receive a $2.9 million Research and Development Investment Loan at an interest rate of two percent for a 10-year term to construct and renovate a building and purchase machinery and equipment. Donatos proposes to create an Innovation Center and Prototype Plant to facilitate the research and development of new methods of producing pizza. The company plans to create new pizza crusts and other pizza advancements for mass production. This more than $4.5 million project is expected to maintain 123 positions and create 25 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Peak Performance Solutions, Inc. (PPSI) will receive a $100,000 Business Development Grant to be used to offset the cost of machinery and equipment for PPSI’s new corporate headquarters and data center in Scioto Township (Pickaway County). The data center will host the company’s present and future products on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis. PPSI is a privately owned company that was formed to acquire companies in the insurance technology industry. The $1.5 million company investment is expected to assist in the creation of 104 jobs. Ohio was in competition with West Virginia and New Jersey for this project.

Ontario Systems, LLC will receive a $25,000 Business Development Grant to offset the cost of infrastructure and machinery and equipment for an expansion at their current facility in Paint Township (Holmes County). Ontario Systems, a software manufacturer, wishes to expand into a second building adjacent to its current facility. The company’s investment of $125,000 is expected to assist in the creation of 30 new jobs and the retention of 43 jobs. Ohio was in competition with Indiana for this project.

The Business Development Account (412) is a grant program to assist companies and communities that are creating or retaining jobs in Ohio. The Research and Development Loan Fund targets large investments from companies involved in research and development projects with significant assets and sales, and assists in financing the acquisition, construction and related costs of technology, facilities and equipment.