$549,500 IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AWARDED TO WOOD AND WILLIAMS COUNTIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today announced that grants totaling $549,500 have been awarded through the Ohio Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Development Program to Wood and Williams Counties. The funds are expected to assist the counties with economic development projects. Wood County will receive a $229,500 grant and Williams County will receive a $320,000 grant, together the funds are expected to create 67 jobs.

"We are pleased to assist Wood and Williams Counties as they plan economic development projects that will assist in the promotion of businesses and jobs in Northwest Ohio," said Johnson, who also serves as state development director. "Ohio means business, and to that end we are committed to working with communities and companies to attract and retain good jobs."

Wood County plans to assist the D.S. Brown Company, located in North Baltimore. The company manufactures rubber and steel products for the bridge and highway construction industries. To expand operations, the D.S. Brown Company will construct a 15,000 square-foot addition and purchase machinery and equipment. The county will use the funds to improve infrastructure to the site by installing 700 linear feet of roadway improvements, 2,100 linear feet of water and sewer lines and 700 linear feet of flood and drainage improvements. The $1.6 million project is expected to create 52 jobs.

Williams County plans to loan the funds to Ferguson Tools, a specialty cutting-tool manufacturer, located in Edgerton. The company will use the funds to purchase machinery and equipment, increase production and meet the demand of the automotive, machine tool, heavy equipment and defense industries. The $1.6 million project is expected to create 15 jobs.

The CDBG Economic Development Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development and provides funding for economic development projects that create and/or retain permanent, private-sector job opportunities. The grants enable local governments to provide public improvements directly related to business development and financial assistance to private entities for economic development projects. Jobs created through the program must benefit primarily low- and moderate-income Ohioans.