FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that the Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved Job Creation and Retention Tax Credits for 13 companies involved in business location or expansion projects that, if located in Ohio, are expected to create 1,519 jobs and retain 6,353 positions.

Action Group, Inc., located in Blacklick (Franklin County), has been awarded a 40 percent tax credit for a five-year term to expand its steel and wood fabrication operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $32,492 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for ten years. Action Group was founded in 1982 as a screen printer specializing in real estate signs. The company later added steel and wood fabrication and dropped the screen-printing business in 2001. Action Group's Columbus facility manufactures products for telecommunications, vehicles, retail store fixtures, and military projects; and produces vendor shop fixtures, rollout packages, catalog and stock displays, kiosks, prototyping and architectural woodwork. Action Group will make a fixed-asset investment of at least $1.4 million, including $1.3 million in new machinery and equipment. This project is expected to create 25 jobs and retain 69 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Kinetic Technologies (K-Tec), to be located in the city of Wickliffe (Lake County), has been awarded a 35 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing and research and development operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $78,049 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. K-Tec was founded in 2002 to provide solutions to manufacturers' material handling needs and now manufactures a series of towable powered and non-powered carts that are specifically designed to ergonomically handle production material in forklift-free applications. K-Tec is privately owned and currently employs nine people at its sub-leased space in the City of Cleveland. K-Tec is considering relocating the company to a currently vacant 40,000 square-foot section of an existing 109,000 square-foot facility building. K-Tec will invest at least $883,000 in machinery and equipment and the facility will be used to manufacture forklift free systems and to house the company's headquarters and R&D department. K-Tec is also considering locations in Louisiana and Michigan for this project, which is expected to create 31 jobs and retain nine positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Ada Technologies Inc. (ATI), located in Ada (Hardin County), has been awarded a 40 percent tax credit for seven-year term for the expansion of its existing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $80,466 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. ATI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atsumitec Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation that is a supplier to Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ATI currently has 216 full-time employees and produces gear-shifting components used in the production of various Honda and Acura vehicles. The proposed project includes an investment of at least $1.9 million to build a 50,000 square-foot expansion to the current facility. The expansion will increase the facility's warehousing capabilities in order to meet increased demand, as well as provide 6,000 square-feet of new office space. ATI is also considering sites in the states of South Carolina and Alabama for this project, which is expected to create 35 jobs and retain 216 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Highway Composites LLC (HC) Monroeville Industrial Moldings Inc., located in Norwalk (Huron County), has been awarded a 45 percent tax credit for seven-year term to consolidate the operations of two subsidiary companies. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $130,267 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. 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). The proposed project includes the purchase of an existing 213,000 square-foot building where PIPO currently leases space. The company proposes to invest $2.3 million for the purchase of the building and $1.15 million for new manufacturing machinery and equipment. The facility will be used to manufacture and distribute MIM's line of plastic support components for highway guardrail systems and for the materials and logistics handling business of PIPO. Ohio is in competition with Utah for this more than $3.4 million project, which is expected to create 69 jobs and retain 62 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

E2E SerWiz Solutions Limited/A TATA Enterprise (SerWizSol), to be located in the Village of Reno (Washington County), has been awarded a 50 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a new incoming call center. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $284,000 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for ten years. SerWizSol is a TATA Enterprise and a 100 percent subsidiary of TATA Sons Ltd, which is part of the TATA group, the largest industrial conglomerate in India with operations in more than 40 countries across six continents. SerWizSol was created in May 2004 to address the large internal needs of the TATA group and to focus on external business opportunities. SerWizSol is pursuing its growth plans by focusing on select industry segments such as travel, healthcare, direct-to-home entertainment, utilities, telecommunications and government-to-citizen initiatives. The company proposes to relocate its incoming-only call center from Parkersburg, West Virginia to a 28,900 square-foot facility located within an existing commercial building in the Reno Commerce Park. All of the current call center employees will be moved to the new facility, which will be an incoming call center for the hospitality industry. SerWizSol will make a fixed-asset investment at the site of $775,000, including $35,000 in leasehold improvements and $690,000 in machinery and equipment. This project is expected to create 375 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Summit Ethanol LLC, to be located in the Village of Leipsic (Putnam County), has been awarded a 50 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to establish a 60 million gallon ethanol production facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $135,174 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Summit Ethanol is a subsidiary of the Broin Companies (Broin), which has designed and constructed 22 operating ethanol plants in five states and has nine others currently under construction. Currently, Broin is the second largest ethanol producer in the United States, managing, producing, and marketing more than 750 million gallons of ethanol annually. The company proposes to invest $26.8 million for the purchase of 100 acres and construction of a 50,000 square-foot ethanol production facility in the Village of Leipsic, as well as $47.8 million for new machinery and equipment. The facility is expected to produce up 60 million gallons of ethanol per year. Ohio is in competition with the states of Indiana and Michigan for this more than $90 million project, which is expected to create 41 jobs within three years of the project's initial operations.

Tigerpoly Manufacturing, Inc. (Tigerpoly), located in Grove City (Franklin County), has been awarded a 65 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand production at its manufacturing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $220,726 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Tigerpoly was established in 1987 to supply Honda of America Mfg., Inc. with injection-molded and blow-molded under-hood air induction components. Tigerpoly is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tigers Polymer Corporation (Tigers Polymer) of Osaka, Japan. The company proposes a 56,000 square-foot expansion of its existing 130,000 square-foot facility to manufacture under hood plastic and rubber components for automotive use, specializing in air induction systems. Tigerpoly will invest approximately $6.1 million in construction, $4.1 million in new equipment and $700,000 in building renovation. Ohio is in competition with the state of Michigan for this $10.9 million project, which is expected to create 45 jobs and retain 277 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Wrayco Industries, Inc. (Wrayco), located in Stow (Summit County) has been awarded a 50 percent tax credit for an eight-year term to expand its existing facility in order to accommodate increased business due to new sales contracts. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $442,509 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 16 years. Wrayco manufactures steel fabrications for the heavy construction, off-highway transportation, mining, and forestry industries and makes parts that are incorporated into aircraft, railroad cars, steam ships, tug boats, bull dozers, earthmoving equipment, well-drilling equipment and cranes. The company's existing 100,000 square-foot facility is older and outdated, and too small for Wrayco's sustained growth. The company proposes a 160,000 square-foot expansion 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. Wrayco will invest $2 million in land acquisition and preparation, $11.79 million for new construction (including water and sewer improvements), and $8.5 million for new machinery and equipment. Wrayco is also considering the States of Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia for this more than $23 million project, which is expected to create 90 positions and retain 182 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Doubleday Acquisitions dba AcuTemp, located in Moraine (Montgomery County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for an eight-year term to relocate and expand its headquarters, research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $255,890 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 16 years. AcuTemp is a provider of temperature management solutions. The company develops and manufactures products in the industry segments of medical storage and transportation, appliance manufacturing and construction, all of which rely on advanced thermal management. The company proposes to purchase an 80,000 square-foot facility to house its headquarters, R&D facilities, process development facilities, manufacturing space and warehousing space for thermal management products. The proposed project includes an investment of $2.2 million for land and building acquisition and $900,000 for the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Ohio is in competition with the state of Indiana and other sites in the Southern United States for this $3.5 million project, which is expected to create 40 jobs and retain 42 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Gradall Industries, Inc. (Gradall), located in New Philadelphia (Tuscarawas County), has been awarded a 60 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to reorganize and expand its existing facility in order to increase productivity and accommodate new machinery and equipment for a new product line. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $387,513 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Gradall manufactures telescopic boom excavators for sale in municipal, construction and industrial markets worldwide. Gradall has been located in New Philadelphia for over 50 years and its current owner, The Alamo Group (Alamo), is headquartered in Texas. Gradall is Alamo's largest division, making up approximately 20 percent of its total sales. Gradall is experiencing increased market growth as customers move towards wheeled excavators such as those made by Gradall in lieu of the more common crawler excavators. The proposed project includes $1.8 million for renovation of an existing 422,000 square-foot facility to manufacture hydraulic excavators and parts for the industrial and construction industries, and $4.2 million for the purchase of new machinery and equipment. Ohio is in competition with the Alabama and other states with Alamo facilities for this more than $6 million project, which is expected to create 75 jobs and retain 398 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

General Motors Corporation (GM), located in Toledo (Lucas County), has been awarded a 65 percent Job Retention Tax credit for a seven-year term for the retention of at least 2,000 full-time positions resulting from the company's renovation and expansion of its Toledo facility. The value of the tax credit will be capped at $23 million over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Founded in 1908, GM is the world's largest automaker and currently employs about 327,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. The proposed project includes the renovation and expansion of GM's current Powertrain facility to manufacture next generation transmissions. The company proposed to expand and renovate its existing facility, which will be used to house manufacturing of GM's new generation of Powertrain equipment. GM will invest $70 million in a 400,000 square-foot building addition, $30.6 million in building renovation and $312.6 million in machinery and equipment. Thousands of jobs could be lost, as the transmission currently manufactured in Toledo will be phased out over the next five years. The proposed project in Toledo will ensure that the Powertrain facility in Toledo remains active and profitable, protecting it from potential plant closure and protecting Ohio jobs. Ohio is in competition with Willow Run, Michigan and Mexico for this more than $413 million project, which is expected to retain at least 2,000 jobs for the term of the tax credit.

FDS Coke (FDS), to be located in Toledo (Lucas County), has been awarded a 65 percent tax credit for a ten-year term to establish a new facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $1,235,032 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 20 years. FDS was established in 2005 by a consortium of investors including the U. S. Coking Group. FDS proposes a new plant to turn coal into coke, a key ingredient in steel production. It is typically a high-emission process; however, the Toledo facility will be equipped with new technology and more efficient pollution controls, such as a smokestack scrubber to minimize ozone releases into the atmosphere and a bag house to capture airborne particles. FDS will build a 140,000 square-foot processing facility and additional smaller support buildings to be used for the production of metallurgical coke. The company will invest $4.6 million in building construction, $320 million in new machinery and equipment, and $1.29 million in on-site infrastructure and site preparation. Ohio is in competition the states of Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other low cost producers in Asia and South America for this more than $325 million project, which is expected to create 140 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Whirlpool Corporation, located in Clyde (Sandusky County), has been awarded a 75 percent tax credit for a 15-year term to expand its home appliances facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $6,393,205 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 30 years. Whirlpool is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances that manufactures in 12 countries under nine principal brand names and markets products to distributors and retailers in more than 170 countries. On March 31, 2006 Whirlpool completed the acquisition of Maytag Corporation. The proposed project includes the consolidation of the former Maytag facilities in the states of Iowa, Illinois and Arkansas to the Whirlpool facility in Clyde. The company will invest at least $23 million in machinery and equipment to update its Clyde facility, which will be utilized to manufacture home appliances and perform research and development of new laundry care technology. The project is expected to create 553 jobs and retain 3,098 within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The Job Creation Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit against the business corporate franchise or income tax. The credit equals a percentage of new state income tax withheld on new, full-time employees in Ohio. The Job Retention Tax Credit provides corporate franchise or state income tax credit for businesses that commit to retain a significant number of full-time jobs.