FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today announced that the Ashtabula County Port Authority (Port) has been awarded $500,000 from the Industrial Site Improvement Fund (ISIF), which provides grants to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas. The funds will be used to acquire, remediate and renovate a bulk water pumping operation in Ashtabula Township.

"The ISIF is an important tool in making it possible for Ohio communities and businesses to create new infrastructure and to upgrade existing facilities for future job creation," said Johnson, who also serves as state development director. "I’m pleased that Ashtabula County officials are working together to retain business investment and jobs in their community, as well as attract further investments that will provide new growth opportunities and bring additional jobs to the area."

The Ashtabula County Port Authority proposes to purchase the Plant C bulk water pumping operation, located on a 21.5-acre site in Ashtabula Township. The Plant C operation was originally constructed by Union Carbide as a bulk water pumping facility that provided cooling water to a power plan on the site, which was owned by the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. The Port, the Ashtabula Growth Partnership and the County Commissioners have teamed to negotiate the purchase of the water plant from CEI/First Energy in order to maintain operations and continue service to existing companies at the site. The $3.9 million project is expected to increase the value and attractiveness of adjacent tracts of developable, industrially zoned property. The Port, aided by the Ashtabula Growth Partnership, will market nearby available industrial land to specialty end users with operations that require large volumes of water.

This raw water supply operation currently supports the manufacturing operations of eight companies that provide more than 850 jobs and more than $51 million in payroll. The ISIF funding is key in retaining these operations and jobs in the community.

The ISIF is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to $500,000 in assistance to eligible Ohio counties to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas. The proposed project site must be used primarily for commercial or industrial activities, and funding can be used for commercial and/or industrial land and building acquisition; public and/or private infrastructure improvements; expansion and/or renovation of existing buildings; and environmental remediation.

ISIF applications are evaluated based on the county's distress level, the project's feasibility and implementation plan, local and private financial participation and the economic and community impact of the project.