FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that more than $14.1 million in Business Development and Roadwork Development Grants have 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) were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to retain 11,268 positions and create 6,020 jobs.

Brush Wellman Inc, to be located in Elmore (Ottawa County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development Grant (412) for costs associated with onsite infrastructure. Brush Wellman manufactures beryllium, beryllium oxide, beryllia ceramics and beryllium alloys for use in the aerospace, automotive, defense, telecommunications, electronics and high performance automation industries. The company, headquartered in Cleveland, is the world's only fully integrated producer of beryllium oxide. Brush Wellman owns 425 acres at the proposed project site and will construct a facility separate from its existing plant for the development of a new manufacturing process. The funds will be used to construct a 100,000-150,000 square-foot research and development facility to be located on a 20-25 acre site in the city of Elmore. This project is expected to create 25 new jobs and retain 118 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Community Improvement Corporation of Harrison County (CICHC) will receive a $400,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of a new ethanol production facility for Harrison Ethanol. Harrison Ethanol wishes to build a 15 million gallon ethanol production facility in Harrison County as part of an integrated bio-refinery. The 270-acre agricultural and industrial development will primarily convert corn to fuel grade ethanol that will be sold to one of seven refineries within a 150-mile radius of the facility. The carbon dioxide and bio-diesel fuel components that are by-products of the ethanol process will be sold as well. The by-product of spent distiller grains will be utilized as cattle feed for the onsite dairy and beef cattle feedlot. Additionally, the methane gas produced at the site's anaerobic digester will be captured and used to produce renewable electricity and heat for the site. The roadwork to be completed includes sub base preparation, grading, base, paving, and related construction. This project is expected to create 107 new jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Fayette County will receive a $400,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of a new ethanol production facility for AS Alliance Biofuels LLC (AS Alliance) in Union Township. AS Alliance is an operating company that will be owned by AS Alliances Holdings, Cargill Incorporated, Fagen Inc. At full production, the facility will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol and 300,000 tons of distiller grains per year. The distiller grains will be sold to cattle and feed hog markets. The roadwork to be completed includes widening Bloomingburg-New Holland Road from State Route 41 to State Route 38, replacing and widening one narrow bridge, upgrading culverts, and resurfacing the entire roadway. This $142 million project is expected to create 58 new jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Richland County Economic Development Corporation (REDeC) will receive a $500,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the expansion of the Tappan Industrial Park in the city of Ontario. The REDeC wishes to construct a new 6,200 lineal foot road from State Route 309 to Tappan Drive North to provide access to 160 acres in the Industrial Park, allowing its entire area to be fully utilized. Two buildings currently exist on this acreage, an occupied two-story office building and a vacant single-story warehouse, both of which will become part of the Industrial Park. The $2.6 million in roadwork costs includes excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction.

Union Township, located in Clermont County, will receive a $400,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of Total Quality Logistics, Inc.'s (TQL) new facility in Union Township. TQL is a third-party logistics provider that works with companies nationwide to facilitate their truckload freight movements. By locating trucks, monitoring shipments and communicating progress to its customers, TQL relieves the burden of finding dependable carriers and handling the many obstacles that occur in transit. To accommodate its rapid growth, TQL will construct a 100,000 square-foot facility that will be used for sales and customer service operations. The $2.3 million in roadwork consists of replacement of the existing substandard surface of Ferguson Drive, south of Aicholtz Lane, with a relocated and upgraded street suitable for commercial traffic. The relocated portion of the road will give better access to the area and, with the additional infrastructure improvements, will open up the area to commercial development. The project is expected to create 586 jobs and retain 400 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

City of Ashland (Ashland County) will receive a $100,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the construction of a new manufacturing facility for Royall Manufacturing, Inc. Ohio Division (Royall). Royall is a privately owned manufacturer of wood, coal fired, and biomass heating systems. The 45,000 square-foot facility, which will be used for the production of biomass heating systems, will be built on six acres of land in the Ashland Industrial Park. Manufacturing functions will utilize 40,000 square feet of the building while 5,000 square feet will be used for office space and a show room. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, base, pavement, and related construction. The project is expected to create 45 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) (Franklin County) will receive a $1 million Roadwork Development (629) Grant in support of the Norfolk Southern Rail Intermodal Facility and Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park at Rickenbacker International Airport. The CRAA oversees the operations of Rickenbacker, Port Columbus International Airport and Bolton Field Airport. The Intermodal facility will be utilized for the interchange of shipping containers between trains and trucks, providing direct access from the existing industrial park area and the new Park to multiple transportation options. This flexibility reduces the overall transportation costs for domestic and international shippers. The project is expected to create 75 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations. The CRAA anticipates the project will eventually create an additional 435 full-time jobs.

Crawford County will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the Crossroads Industrial Center in the city of Bucyrus. Crawford County will construct a 3,655 lineal foot extension of Gulling Drive and complete the basic infrastructure of Holmes Court South in the Industrial Center, providing access to additional lots that are available in the Center, allowing it to be fully developed. Additionally, the roadwork will provide access to a new 61,000 square-foot speculative building being constructed by Weithman Bucyrus, LLC, a local contractor and developer. The eligible roadwork includes base, pavement, and related construction.

City of Youngstown (Mahoning County) will receive a $500,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the expansion of V&M Star LP's (V&M Star) in the city of Youngstown. V&M Star, which is North America's leading provider of Oil Country and Tubular goods (OCTG), line and standard pipe, coupling stock, and mechanical tube, is the only operating steel mill in Youngstown. The company, located adjacent to the Ohio Works Industrial Park, wishes to increase its production of seamless pipe. The improvements consist of the realignment of the roadway to enhance vehicular safety; replacement of 5,100 square yards of reinforced concrete pavement; 1,000 lineal feet of concrete curbing; 7,400 lineal feet of concrete sidewalk; structural repairs to an existing tunnel over the roadway; and related construction. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, grading, paving, curb and sidewalk construction, and related items. The project is expected to retain 425 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Putnam County will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of the West Side Development project in the Village of Continental. Putnam County will improve 1,475 lineal feet of Township Road 22 and 1,400 lineal feet of County Road E-16, also known as Rice Street, on the west side of the Village of Continental. The Westside Development project involves these two roadways and the 60 acres directly to the southeast of their intersection. Socar of Ohio, Inc. (Socar) operates a steel joist production facility in the development area and Continental Turf Systems Inc., a rubber products recycler is also located in the development area. Roadwork expenses include excavation, embankment construction, grading, base, paving, and related construction.

A. Schulman Invision, Inc. (Invision), to be located in Hancock County, will receive a $25,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Additionally, Hancock County will receive a $150,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of A. Schulman Invision, Inc.'s new operations. A. Schulman Company, the parent company to Invisions, is an international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins, which are used as raw materials in a variety of markets. Invisions is a new product that can eliminate many intermediate manufacturing processes and reduce costs for its customers. Invision will construct a new manufacturing facility in Findlay's Tall Timbers Industrial Park. The 100,000 square foot building will be located on 49.5 acres, and will be utilized for the manufacturing of Invision. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes lab-testing equipment. Hancock County will make roadway improvements that include excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction. The project is expected to create 43 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

FDS Coke Plant, LLC (FDS Coke), to be located in Toledo (Lucas County), will receive a $150,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. FDS Coke will construct a new coke plant at a Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority site with docks on the Maumee River. Additionally, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, will receive a $270,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the new 140,000 square-foot facility, which will produce metallurgical coke, created by baking coal with a heat agent, to be used in the production of steel. The plant will be located on 53 acres, and should produce up to 1.44 million tons of coke per year. The $320 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes a battery machinery rail system, oven machinery, a boiler system, a boiler feed water system, a flue gas desulfurization system, coal hoppers, and related equipment. Lucas County will make roadway improvements that include excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction The project is expected to create 140 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

City of Toledo (Lucas County) will receive a $2 million Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of General Motors Corporation's (GM) Powertrain facility. GM will renovate and expand its current Powertrain facility in the City of Toledo to house manufacturing of its new generation of Powertrain equipment: a new six-speed, rear-wheel drive automatic transmission. The currently manufactured four-speed transmission will be phased out by 2011. The roadwork to be completed involves excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction. The project is expected to retain a minimum of 2,000 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

City of Avon (Lorain County) will receive a $100,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the expansion of Danco Metal Products, Inc. (Danco) in the city of Avon. Danco manufactures highly designed precision custom sheet metal fabrications for the space, construction, telecom, banking, industrial and health care industries. Danco will expand in a newly constructed building in Avon at the Avon Commerce Park. The 70,000 square-foot new building will be utilized for sheet metal fabrication, with 10,000 square feet of office space for support functions. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, embankment, grading, base, pavement, and related construction. The project is expected to create 25 jobs and retain 48 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

City of Stow (Summit County) will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of the Hudson Drive Business Park. The City of Stow, in a public/private partnership with Albrecht, will develop a new industrial park and construct a new public road to provide sufficient access. The 1,760 lineal foot road, to be called Campus Drive, will be the main artery into the Business Park. The road will run in a westerly direction from Hudson Drive and then will turn north to intersect with McCauley Road, directly across from Prosper Drive, which is the entrance to the Stow Commerce Center. The City of Stow will install sewer and water lines to the site at a cost of $347,000. Albrecht will make an additional fixed asset investment at the site of $3.5 million for the construction of two new 25,000 square foot industrial buildings. The eligible roadwork includes excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction.

Scioto County will receive a $250,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of the proposed Scioto County Industrial Park in Clay Township. Southern Ohio Growth Partnership (SOGP) wishes to develop the new Industrial Park in Scioto County on approximately 90 acres of undeveloped land that was previously utilized for farming. The Great Lakes Business Unit, which operates a branch distribution facility for Coca Cola Enterprises, Inc., would like to move its distribution operation to the new Industrial Park. Great Lakes currently owns an 8,000 square-foot facility in Portsmouth and leases an additional 10,000 square-foot facility in the same area that is used for warehousing. The company's goal is to combine both operations in a single location with additional office space that is located within 10 miles of Portsmouth. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, grading, base, pavement, and related construction. The project is expected to retain 96 positions at the Great Lakes Business Unit within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Village of North Baltimore (Wood County) will receive a $60,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the expansion of the D.S. Brown Company (Brown) facility. Brown, which is headquartered in North Baltimore and is owned by D.S. Browning Holdings, Inc., is a manufacturer of rubber and steel products sold to the bridge and highway industry; products include structural bearings, expansion joints, extruded rubber seals and miscellaneous steel bridge components. Brown plans to move some of its product lines from the company's Chaska, Minnesota subsidiary to North Baltimore. The company plans to expand its 120,000 square-foot facility by 15,000 square feet to add a new production line to be used primarily for the manufacturing of steel fabrication of bridge expansion joints. The roadwork to be completed includes rubbilizing and surfacing 1,600 lineal feet of Cherry Street. The project is expected to create 52 jobs and retain 140 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

City of Shelby (Richland County) will receive a $400,000 Roadwork Development (629) Grant to complete public roadwork in support of the Technology and Innovation Center Technology Park (TIC). The TIC will be located adjacent to North Central State College's Kehoe Center for Advanced Learning on the south side of Shelby. A private developer, Mr. Ralph Phillips, will complete buildings within the TIC. The City of Shelby will create the TIC and provide roadway access to all of the property lots in the park. The roadwork, which includes excavation, base, pavement, and related construction, will provide access to 71 acres that is to be divided into eight lots for development.

MTD Consumer Group, Inc. (MTD), to be located in Shelby (Richland County), will receive a $400,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. MTD is a manufacturer and distributor of lawn and garden equipment, focusing on outdoor power equipment such as mowers, lawn and garden tractors, and snow blowers for domestic consumers. The company wishes to construct a new distribution center in the city of Shelby in order to improve efficiency and create a modern distribution facility to replace its existing facility, also in Shelby. The company would like to build a new 450,000 square-foot distribution and light-manufacturing center on 50 to 70 acres to package and distribute lawn and garden equipment parts, attachments, and accessories to various retail channels. The $8 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes pick engines, conveyors, sorters, scanners, rack storage, reach trucks, and related equipment. The project is expected to retain 390 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Leedsworld, Inc. (Leedsworld), to be located in Warren (Trumbull County), will receive a $250,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Leedsworld is a leading supplier in the promotional products and advertising specialty industry. The company customizes a complete line of corporate accessories, including: bags, writing instruments, portfolios, insulated items and gift sets. Leedsworld will lease a 256,000 square-foot, former Delphi Packard Electric building in Warren that will house light production and distribution operations. The $2 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes stamping machines, laser cutting machines, silkscreen printers, heat transfer label printers, warehouse racking, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 241 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Royall Manufacturing, Inc. Ohio Division (Royall), to be located in Ashland (Ashland County), will receive a $50,000 Business Development (412) Grant for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Royall is a privately owned manufacturer of wood, coal fired, and biomass heating systems. The company will construct a 45,000 square-foot facility on six acres of land in the Ashland Industrial Park that will be used for the production of biomass heating systems. Manufacturing functions will utilize 40,000 square feet of the building while 5,000 square feet will be used for office space and a show room. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, base, pavement, and related construction. The company also has an option on four additional acres in the Industrial Park for future expansion. The $1.2 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes a 4000-watt laser, a powder coating system, a brake press, welders, air compressors, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 45 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Cobasys, LLC (Cobasys),. located in Springboro (Warren County), will receive a $750,000 Business Development (412) Grant for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Cobasys was created to further develop and advance the commercialization of energy storage systems utilizing NiMH batteries for transportation and stationary applications such as emergency, security, data, and information systems. The company will expand its 170,000 square-foot building on 12.1 acres by 50,000 square-feet to be utilized for the manufacture and assembly of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and for support services. The $137 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes parts handling equipment, encapsulators, vibration weld tooling, NG (nanogram) collators, NG assemblies, powder handling machines, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 150 jobs and retain 120 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Lear Operations Corporation (Lear), located in Huron (Erie County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development (412) Grant for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Lear's Huron facility manufactures automotive interior plastic products, acoustical products, and instrument panel products. Lear wishes to expand its current manufacturing facility by adding two 11,000 square-foot lean-to additions to the company's 344,000 square-foot facility. These additions will be utilized to produce interior automotive products for a variety of motor vehicle producers. The $12.7 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes refurbishment of a 330-ton press, refurbishment of a 1500-ton press, refurbishment of three additional presses, a glove box assembly point of sale (POS) system, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 220 jobs and retain 778 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

ICI Paints, to be located in Strongsville (Cuyahoga County), will receive a $30,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs of new machinery and equipment. ICI Paints in a business segment of the United Kingdom-based Imperial Chemical Industries. It is best known in the U.S. as The Glidden Company, which ICI Paints acquired in 1986. The segment also manufactures and distributes Liquid Nails caulks and adhesives, industrial coatings, and coatings for packaging such as cans and closures. ICI Paints will create a Global Packaging Coating Research Group by consolidating all of the research facilities for ICI Paints' Packaging Coating division into one location. The $54,000 in new machinery and equipment to be purchased is a particle size analyzer instrument. The project is expected to create eight jobs and retain 280 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Liquid Control Corporation, located in Jackson Township (Stark County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Liquid Control is a leader in dispensing equipment for the paint, automotive, and oil change industries. The company designs, tests, and manufactures meter, mix, and dispensing equipment. Liquid Control will add 58,000 square-feet to its existing 73,000 square-foot building to be utilized to expand capabilities for manufacturing, distribution, and research and development of precision dispensing equipment at the expanded facility. The $1 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes milling centers, quick turn lathes, milling machines, grinders, measuring machines, quality control equipment, a laser marking system, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 32 jobs and retain 83 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Heartland Healthcare Services (HHS), located in Toledo (Lucas County), will receive a $25,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs of the acquisition of machinery and equipment. HHS provides professional pharmacy and related consulting services to long-term care facilities. The company will expand its institutional pharmacy operations at its Toledo facility to allow it to increase its service capabilities to include Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. The expansion will also allow HHS to improve its efficiencies, reduce operating expenses, and improve quality control. The $105,000 in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes repackaging equipment and a facility dispensing system. The project is expected to create 75 jobs and retain 187 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Columbus Steel Castings Company (CSC), located in Columbus (Franklin County), will receive a $500,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. CSC, which is the world's largest single site steel foundry, manufactures steel castings for freight and passenger rail cars, locomotives, mining equipment, industrial magnets, earth moving equipment, steel rolling mills, dams, bridges, oil platforms and other industries. The company needs to replace its aged, unreliable water-cooling and distribution system, which is more than 50 years old and . Currently, the facility uses approximately 25 million gallons of city water per month to keep the system full, at a rate of 250,000 gallons of processed, or cooled, water per production hour. Total failure of the water system would result in the facility needing an additional 100 million gallons per month of city water to continue operations. The project is expected to retain 500 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Whirlpool Corporation, located in Clyde (Sandusky County) and Marion (Marion County), will receive a $3 million Business Development (412) Grant for the expansion of its Clyde facility and for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Whirlpool is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances including brands such as KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Estate, and Consul.To maximize productivity and efficiency, Whirlpoolwill close facilities in Illinois, Iowa and Arkansas, consolidating them to its existing operations in Marion and Clyde. The company plans to invest more than $56 million in machinery and equipment, which is to be split between the two locations. The project is expected to create 1,147 jobs and retain 6,100 positions in the cities of Clyde and Marion within the first three years of the projects' initial operations.

Highway Composites, LLC (HC), to be located in Norwalk (Huron County), will receive a $50,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. HC is a private holding company with two primary subsidiary companies, Monroeville Industrial Moldings, Inc. (MIM) and PIPO, Inc (PIPO). MIM is presently located in Monroeville (Huron County) and PIPO is located in Norwalk (Huron County). HC will consolidate its two subsidiaries and expand at one location in the city of Norwalk. HC plans to purchase the 213,000 square-foot facility on 22 acres where PIPO currently operates, move MIM into the building, and expand its operations at this location. The $1.1 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes shredders, extruders, cardboard bailers, an injection-molding machine, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 69 jobs and retain 52 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

TW Fanch One (TW), located in Zanesville (Muskingum County), will receive a $45,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of new machinery and equipment. TW will expand its incoming-only call center in Zanesville by leasing and moving its operations to a larger building within the same city. The new 6,550 square-foot facility to be located on an 11-acre plot will be utilized to answer incoming calls from subscribers pertaining to billing, new products, and troubleshooting. The company plans to purchase $770,000 in machinery and equipment, which includes a phone system and a generator. The project is expected to create 97 jobs and retain 47 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Citigroup Technology, Inc.(Citigroup), to be located in Liberty Township (Delaware County), will receive a $500,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Citigroup is the technology division of its ultimate parent, Citigroup, Inc. The parent is a diversified global financial services holding company that provides a broad range of financial services to individual and corporate customers. Citigroup will build a new 300,000 square-foot financial service data center on 57 acres at Greif Business Park located in Liberty Township. The $325 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes computer servers, media storage devices, network equipment, generators, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 55 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority, located in Troy (Miami County), will receive a $500,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with acquiring and renovating a building to be leased to Clopay Building Products Company, Inc. Clopay is a premier manufacturer and distributor of residential and commercial garage doors and peripheral building products in North America. The Port Authority will purchase and renovate an existing, empty building in Troy, and will provide a capital lease to Clopay for the company to expand and rationalize its manufacturing operations at the site. The Troy facility will be utilized for the manufacturing of garage doors and peripheral building products. Clopay will invest $46 million in machinery and equipment and the Port Authority will invest $7.6 million for land and building acquisition and $5.15 million in building renovation. The project is expected to create 400 jobs and retain 155 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

WIL Research Laboratories, LLC (WIL), located in Ashland (Ashland County), will receive a $50,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. WIL is a premier research organization focusing on toxicological research. The company completes contract, non-clinical medical research. It focuses on product safety and toxicological assessment research for the pharmaceutical, bio-technical, chemical, agricultural, veterinary, food, and consumer product industries. WIL plans expand its existing 150,000 square-foot laboratory facility and purchase $11 million in machinery and equipment.The project is expected to create 83 jobs and retain 500 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Gradall Industries, Inc., located in New Philadelphia (Tuscarawas County), will receive a $200,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Gradall, which manufactures telescopic boom excavators for sale in municipal, construction, and industrial markets worldwide, is the largest division of The Alamo Group, headquartered in Texas. Gradall's current facility manufactures hydraulic excavators and parts for its JLG Industries' material-handler product line. The company would like to reorganize and expand its facility to increase productivity and accommodate new machinery and equipment for a new product line. The $4.2 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes a polyurethane conversion paint system, bridge cranes, robotic systems, air units, machining centers, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Alabama, and other states with Alamo facilities, for this project, which is expected to create 75 jobs and retain 398 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Wrayco Industries, Inc., located in Stow (Summit County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Wrayco is a manufacturer of precision-machined component parts and heavy-gauge, welded, steel fabrications used in the construction and mining equipment industries. Wrayco will expand its existing facility in Stow to accommodate increased business due to new sales contracts. The 160,000 square-foot expansion will be utilized for the production of different types of sheet metal weldments for the heavy construction and mining industries such as fuel tanks, hydraulic tanks, fenders, platforms, and brackets. The $6.5 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes a paint line, a powder booth, a tank washing station, a punch press, a roboformer system, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 90 jobs and retain 186 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Tigerpoly Manufacturing, Inc., located in Grove City (Franklin County), will receive a $100,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Tigerpoly was established in 1987 to supply Honda of America Mfg., Inc. with injection-molded and blow-molded under-hood air induction components. The company will expand its existing 130,000 square-foot building by 56,000 square-feet. The entire facility will be utilized for the production of Tigerpoly's line of injection-molded and blow-molded plastic and rubber air-induction-system parts for the automotive industry. The $4.1 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes bridge cranes, air compressors, processed water chillers, cooling towers, air cleaner testing machines, vibration testing machines, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 45 jobs and retain 265 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Vogel Seed & Fertilizer, Inc. dba Spring Valley Turf Products, to be located in Washington Township (Hancock County), will receive a $25,000 Business Development (412) Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Originally incorporated as Vogel Seed & Fertilizer, Inc., the company became known as Spring Valley Turf and now produces lawn and garden fertilizers in the Midwest. Spring Valley will open a new fertilizer and ice melter bagging and distribution facility in Washington Township to replace the company's Grand Rapids, Michigan facility, which was destroyed by fire in 2005. The 30,000 square-foot relocated facility will be utilized for receiving and storing bulk raw materials, measuring and blending the raw materials, bagging and palletizing the mixed product, storage, and shipping. It will service customers in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The $1.5 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased by Spring Valley includes conveyors, a rotary screener, declining weigh bins, impregnation pumps, blend augers, bagging bins, screening equipment, an automatic bagging system, and related equipment. The project is expected to create 32 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

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.