TAFT ANNOUNCES GRANTS TO BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES
State Assistance Will Help Create 471 Jobs for Ohioans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that more than $2.3 million in Business Development and Roadwork Development Grants have been awarded to aid in the growth and development of businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) and approved today by the State Controlling Board, are expected to create 471 jobs and retain 2,094 positions.

H.C. Starck, Inc. has been awarded a $200,000 Business Development grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment for a project being considered in Euclid (Cuyahoga County). H.C. Starck, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG (Bayer), is part of the Bayer Material Science business, which produces ceramic and refractory metal powders, special metals, and intermediate products for advanced ceramics. These materials are processed into mill products and fabricated parts. This project is part of an overall realignment undertaking by Bayer to create cost savings and efficiencies in its worldwide operations. Ohio is in competition with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan for this project, which is expected to create 130 jobs and retain 113 positions within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Henry County will receive a $22,500 Roadwork Development grant to complete public roadwork in support of the expansion of Campbell Soup Company’s (Campbells) facility. Campbells, the world’s largest soup maker with almost 70 percent market share in the United States, plans to invest $3.4 million in its Henry County site, including $135,000 in building renovations and $3.2 million in new machinery and equipment. Roadwork to be completed in support of the expansion includes reconstructing 2,900 lineal feet of Township Road 12, which is the primary transportation route for Campbells outbound trucks. Roadway construction is expected to bring the road up to a 40-ton capacity. The project is expected to retain 1,250 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

AK Tube, Inc., located in Walbridge (Wood County), will receive a $75,000 Business Development grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. AK Tube is a producer of carbon and stainless steel mechanical tubing products for the truck exhaust, hydro forming, air handling, outdoor furniture and automotive markets. AK Tube is expanding operations at its Walbridge facility and will acquire a new tube mill to produce large diameter stainless steel tubing that will assist heavy truck manufacturers in meeting new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for diesel emissions. Ohio is in competition with Indiana for this project, which is expected to retain 50 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Allen County will receive a $2 million Roadwork Development grant to complete public roadwork in support of the construction of a 1.2 million square-foot warehouse and distribution center. P&G is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Proctor and Gamble Company, which is headquartered in Cincinnati and is the world’s largest producer of household products with more than 20 brands. P&G is investing $150 million in the new facility and road improvements are needed to accommodate the hundreds of semi-trucks that will be delivering to and from the new facility on a daily basis. Ohio is in competition with Indiana and Louisiana for this project, which is expected to create 250 jobs and retain 477 within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Tosoh SMD, Inc. (Tosoh), located in Grove City (Franklin County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Tosoh is a subsidiary of Tosoh Corporation, a global competitor in the material science industry and supplier of inorganic chemicals, petrochemicals and specialty materials. The Grove City facility focuses on applications for microprocessors, flat panel displays, fuel cells and inkjets. Tosoh is considering expansion of a current production line and the addition of a new production line at the 200,000 squire-foot Grove City facility. Ohio is in competition with facilities in Japan and Korea. The project is expected to create 91 jobs and retain 204 within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

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 highway and road projects related to job creation and retention. The 629 Program is funded with gas tax dollars and is restricted to public road projects only.