FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that $2,315,000 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 885 jobs and retain 2,163 positions.

The Wornick Company, to be located in Blue Ash (Hamilton County), will receive a $150,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Wornick is the largest supplier of individual and group feeding rations to the U.S. and international militaries and is a market-leading provider of turnkey product development and manufacturing services for large branded food companies. Ohio is in competition with Texas for the consolidated facility, which would be used for light manufacturing, assembly and palletizing for shipment of MREs (Means Ready-to Eat). The more than $10 million project is expected to create 225 jobs and retain 544 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

City of Euclid, located in Cuyahoga County, will receive a $265,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of the relocation and consolidation of H.C. Starck's refractory metals and alloys facilities. H.C. Starck, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG (Bayer), is part of the Bayer Material Science business, which produces ceramic and refractory metal powders, special metals and intermediate products for advanced ceramics. These materials are processed into mill products and fabricated parts. H.C. Starck plans to move into a vacant, 178,000 square-foot building, located adjacent to the company's current operation used to manufacture sputtering targets of molybdenum plates. Ohio was in competition with Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for this $17.5 million project, which is expected to create 130 jobs and retain 113 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Avery Dennison, to be located in Strongsville (Cuyahoga County), will receive a $200,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Avery Dennison Corporation is a manufacturer of pressure sensitive material and office products. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, the company employs more than 20,000 people at 200 locations worldwide. Avery Dennison plans to consolidate its Cleveland and Strongsville operations at the Strongsville location, which is the larger of the two facilities and offers more options to support future growth. The consolidated Strongsville facility will manufacture products for the automotive industry. This $3 million project is expected to retain 106 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Village of Obetz, located in Franklin County, will receive a $300,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of the Obetz Industrial Park. The improvements will allow for the development of 230 acres of industrial-zoned property. The Village of Obetz plans to widen and improve 4.075 lineal feet of Toy Road at its intersection with Alum Creek Drive. Additionally, several shorter roadways will be built off of Toy Road to available lots in the Park, which consists of a speculative building as well as built-to-suit buildings. The project will create an estimated 100 jobs.

City of Mason, located in Warren County, will receive a $350,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. Great Wolf currently owns seven resorts and wishes to construct an indoor water park, conference center and hotel complex on 62 acres adjacent to Paramount's Kings Island Resort. The water park will be one of the world's largest, located inside a 90,000 square-foot structure. The conference center will utilize 30,000 square feet of space and the hotel will have 300 rooms with a woodland lodge and extended-stay theme. Ohio is in competition with Indianapolis, Indiana for this more than $80 project, which is expected to create 290 new jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Behr Dayton Thermal Products, LLC (Behr), located in Dayton (Montgomery County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with infrastructure improvements. Behr is a wholly owned subsidiary of Behr America, Inc., which is headquartered in Troy, Michigan and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Behr Global of Germany. Behr Global is a systems partner for the automotive industry, specializing in air-conditioning and engine cooling systems. The Behr facility in Dayton manufactures and assembles heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) units, evaporators, heater cores, radiators, condensers, fans and clutches for the automotive industry. Behr wishes to upgrade its facility in Dayton to accommodate new customer contracts and increased shipments. This more than $16 million project is expected to retain 1,400 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

City of Springfield, located in Clark County, will receive a $750,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) in support of the Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park (Nextedge). Nextedge is a 244-acre business park specifically designed for high technology companies, data centers and research organizations. Focused on the vision of Ohio’s Third Frontier, Nextedge is being developed with high security, high power availability and a training center integrated into the park. Amenities include redundant power sources and duplicate fiber optics networks. The City of Springfield wishes to expand Nextedge and provide roadway access to all of the property lots in the park. The park's first tenant, LexisNexis, has made a $40 million fixed asset investment at the site and hired 80 new full-time employees.

Village of Groveport, located in Franklin County, will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork in support of Yokohama Tire Corporation. Yokohama, a manufacturer and distributor of tires for cars, trucks, construction equipment and aircraft, and manufactures industrial rubber products, is considering relocating its Georgia distribution operation to a leased facility. The operation will house tire products for a major automaker and for wholesale and resale distribution. Yokohama and its building owner, Opus, plan to make a fixed asset investment at the site of $25 million for new construction and $4 million for machinery and equipment. Ohio is in competition with Louisville, Kentucky for the project, which is expected to create 60 jobs 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.