JOHNSON CONGRATULATES METALEX MANUFACTURING
Firm recognized as U.S. Small Business Subcontractor of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today congratulated Cincinnati-based Metalex Manufacturing for receiving the Small Business Subcontractor of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Each year, the SBA presents the award to small businesses that have provided government and industry with outstanding goods and subcontracting services. Metalex was recognized Wednesday at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce luncheon kicking off National Small Business Week.

“I would like to congratulate Metalex Manufacturing and thank the company for bringing valuable contracting dollars into the state,” said Johnson, who also serves as state development director. “I am also pleased that the Ohio Department of Development’s Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) program has assisted Metalex in creating a successful business contracting plan. The PTAC program is an important component of our efforts to foster a strong business climate to allow Ohio’s small business community to create, retain and expand jobs opportunities for our residents.”

Metalex is a high-technology contract machine shop that contracts with commercial and government customers, including the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, which includes the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, as well as NASA and some of the largest prime contractors for spacecraft and aircraft production. Other customers include consumer packaged goods companies, major automobile manufacturers and their tier-one component suppliers. Metalex is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business that staffs 60% of its shop floor workforce with veterans.

The Southwest Central Ohio PTAC provided assistance, contacts and direction for Metalex as the company worked its way into the arena of government contract bidding and subcontract work. By better understanding small business and veteran-owned business incentives, Metalex has been able to employ more people and help Ohio compete and win more government contracts.

The Ohio PTAC network is a joint venture of the Ohio Department of Development, the Defense Logistics Agency and local partners that work to assist Ohio businesses sell to federal, state and local government agencies through a broad range of technical assistance services. The Network includes 10 local offices that are based in organizations serving rural, suburban and urban businesses in all sectors of the economy.

In 2005, Ohio’s PTAC program served 1,641 active clients and assisted in 6,317 follow-up counseling sessions that resulted in $632 million public sector prime contract awards and $14 million in subcontract awards.