FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that $260,000 in Business Development and Roadwork Development Grants has 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 315 jobs and retain 614 positions.

Alkermes, Inc., located in Wilmington (Clinton County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Alkermes is a pharmaceutical company that develops drug delivery systems for the reformulation of already-marketed drugs. The company plans to use the increase in space largely for the manufacturing of Risperdal Consta^R, the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of schizophrenia, and Vivitrex^R, which is utilized for the treatment of alcohol dependency. The company will invest $26 million in pharmaceutical grade machinery and equipment and add manufacturing, laboratory, research and development, warehousing and administrative operating space. The more than $76 million project is expected to create 275 jobs and retain 275 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Mattingly Foods, Inc. (Mattingly), located in Zanesville (Muskingum County), will receive a $20,000 Business Development Grant (412) for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Mattingly is a supplier of dry, refrigerated, and frozen foods for large chain customers in 21 states. Mattingly proposed to invest more than $200,000 in new machinery and equipment to upgrade its Zanesville facility with new technology, including a voice-activated picking system, which will allow management to better direct its workforce and operate more efficiently. The $280,000 project is expected to create 15 jobs and retain 263 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Saint-Gobain Calmar Inc. (Calmar), located in Washington Court House (Fayette County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development Grant (412) for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Calmar manufactures dispensing systems such as non-aerosol pumps and sprayers for personal care, cleaning/chemical, and cosmetic applications. Calmar wishes to renovate its manufacturing facility and acquire $11.5 million in machinery and equipment, including molding machines, temperature control equipment, robots, grinders, a production assembly line, and material handling equipment. Calmar's total fixed asset investment at the facility would be $16 million.

Harrison County will receive a $40,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of W.C. Cardinal Company (Cardinal) and the Harrison County Industrial Park (Park) in Cadiz (Harrison County). Cardinal is a manufacturer of large inventory shelving for manufacturing, distribution, warehouse, and retail operations. The company wishes to expand its existing facility by 42,000 square feet in order to increase production and reconstruction of 2.17 miles of County Highway 29 (Industrial Park Road) will provide necessary access for Cardinal and other tenants of the Park and will allow the road to be used as a truck by-pass around the Southwestern side of the Village of Cadiz and its residential streets. The project is expected to create 25 jobs and retain 76 positions 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.