FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that $625,000 in Business Development, Roadwork Development and Rural Development Initiative 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 two jobs and retain 272 positions.

City of Orville, located in Wayne County, will receive a $100,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of a new, 180,000 square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility for American Weather Seal. The company produces vinyl window and door products using the latest vinyl technology. American Weather Seal currently operates in an inefficient and outdated building on Smithville Road, its new facility will allow room for future company growth at the site. The roadwork updates are needed to provide access to the land for American Weather Seal's new building and include excavation, grading, base, pavement and related construction. The project is expected to retain 150 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Kao Brands Company, located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), will receive a $25,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Kao Brands, a wholly owned subsidiary KAO Corporation, a Japanese company, manufactures a variety of personal care products. The Cincinnati facility is a part of the company's manufacturing and administrative complex that includes administration, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. The $650,000 in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) equipment, packaging lab equipment, enhancements to stability chambers, a colorimeter, a rheometer and related equipment. The more than $1.8 million project is expected to create two new jobs and retain 122 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

WMOG, Inc., located in Willard (Huron County), will receive a $500,000 Rural Development Initiative Fund grant to construct a 56,000 square-foot speculative facility on a 10-acre lot in the Willard Industrial Park. WMOG is an Ohio S-Corporation that invests in real estate and other business ventures and provides financing for current or potential construction projects for its sister companies. The lot will allow for rail access to the building, an added inducement to new manufacturing development at the site. The facility will include 6,000 square feet of office and/or administrative space and 50,000 square feet will be constructed for industrial/manufacturing uses. The total project cost is estimated at more than $2 million.

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. The Rural Development Initiative Fund provides grants to eligible applicants who also qualify and receive funding under the Rural Industrial Park Loan program.