FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that the Development Financing Advisory Council (DFAC) has approved loans and bonds totaling more than $24 million for nine economic development projects. The loans, which are pending State Controlling Board approval, are expected to create 958 jobs and retain 3,946 positions.

Healthcare Transaction Processors, Inc. (HTP), located in Columbus (Franklin County), will receive a $1,777,500 Innovation Ohio Loan at an interest rate of 7.5 percent for a six-year term to purchase hardware and software and for the development of software. HTP develops and markets software products and services that fully support the administrative transaction management needs of the healthcare industry, which include payers, providers, employees, administrators and data interchange services. The project involves the development of new software that will enhance the functionality of the company's three base product suites in order to meet the transaction needs of its healthcare industry customers. This more than $2.3 million is expected to create 109 jobs and retain 36 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Gradall Industries, Inc., located in New Philadelphia (Tuscarawas County), will receive a $2 million 166 Direct Loan at an interest rate of three percent for a ten-year term to purchase new machinery and equipment. 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. Gradall plans to rearrange manufacturing operations in its 422,000 square-foot facility to improve efficiencies at its material handler. This project is expected to create 75 jobs and retain 150 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

NDI Medical (NDI), located in Warrensville Heights (Cuyahoga County), will receive a $2 million Research and Development (R&D) Loan for a term of fifteen years at an interest rate of 2.5 percent to purchase land and construct a new facility to house its research and development operations and administrative functions. NDI is a medical device development company that targets neurostimulation companies, medical device companies pursuing the neurostimulation market and neurostimulation researchers and clinicians. The company proposes to construct a 15,000-20,000 square-foot research and development facility to maintain its current level of operation and to grow its business. The company will also invest in equipment to support research and product development activities and furniture and fixtures to support regulatory, sales and executive functions. The $4 million project is expected to create 26 jobs and retain 15 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Negoce, LLC (Mandamus, LLC dba NCI-Nursing Corps (NCI)), located in Wintersville (Jefferson County), will receive a $596,250 Pioneer Rural Loan at an interest rate of three percent for a 15-year term for a building purchase. NCI is a provider of specialized medical services that delivers medical solutions for a variety of industries. The company assigns medical professionals to a company's workplace. NCI's primary customers are fossil fuel plants, petroleum refineries and heavy industrial plants. The project involves the purchase of a building that NCI currently leases to provide needed additional space. This project will create three jobs and retain 17 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Highway Composites, LLC, located in Norwalk (Huron County), will receive a $1 million 166 Direct Loan at an interest rate of three percent for a 15-year term for a building purchase. HC is a real estate 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 and the purchase of machinery and equipment to produce plastic feedstock and to introduce new product lines. This more than $3.4 million project is expected to create 69 jobs and retain 26 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Whirlpool Corporation, located in Clyde (Sandusky County), will receive a $5 million 166 Direct Loan at an interest rate of one percent for years one through five and two percent for years six through ten and a $2.625 million Research and Development Investment Loan at an interest rate of two percent for a ten-year term for the acquisition of new machinery and equipment and research and development equipment. 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 purchase new 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 more than $26 million project is expected to create 553 jobs and retain 3,098 at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

WIL Research (WIL), located in Ashland (Ashland County), will receive a $7 million Research and Development Investment loan at an interest rate of two percent for a 10-year term to expand it current facility and for the acquisition of new machinery and equipment. WIL is a non-clinical contract research organization providing product safety and toxicological assessment research and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, agricultural, veterinary, food and consumer products industries. The company proposes to expand an existing building by 95,000 to100,000 square feet to increase space and meet the growing demand for its services. WIL will also purchase new laboratory machinery and equipment, including caging, racking and scopes. This $34 million project is expected to create 83 new jobs and maintain 500 at the project site positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

WLS Stamping Company (WLS), located in Highland Heights (Cuyahoga County), will receive a $1 million 166 Direct Loan at an interest rate of three percent for a 15-year term to purchase a building for its stamped metal products and fabrications manufacturing operations. WLS manufactures stamped metal products and fabrications that are produced to customer specifications. WLS provides multiple products to companies in the areas of stamping, sheet metal components, sub-assemblies and precision machining. The company proposes to purchase an existing building to relocate its fabricating manufacturing operations. The facility will be primarily utilized for the fabrication of metal parts. The project will allow WLS to take on larger fabrication projects and add a paint line to provide painting services to its clients. The more than $2.4 million project is expected to retain 62 jobs at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

DoubleDay Acquisitions, LLC dba AcuTemp, located in Moraine (Montgomery County), will receive a $1.2 million Research and Development Investment Loan Fund at an interest rate of two percent for a ten-year term to acquire a larger facility. AcuTemp is a temperature management solutions company focused on product and process development. 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. AcuTemp also provides services to the food service/delivery and construction and appliance industries. The company proposes to renovate an 80,000 square-foot facility to house its corporate R&D headquarters and operations. This project is expected to create 40 jobs and retain 42 positions at the project site within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The Research and Development Loan Fund (R&D) targets large investments from companies involved in research and development projects with significant assets and sales, and assists in financing the acquisition, construction and related costs of technology, facilities and equipment. The 166 Direct Loan program provides loans for land and building acquisition, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase. The Innovation Ohio Fund Loan (IOF) assists existing Ohio companies develop next generation products in industry sectors that include: advanced materials; instrument, controls and electronics; power and propulsion; biosciences; and information technology. The Pioneer Rural Loan program provides loans for land and building acquisition, expansion or renovation, and equipment purchase in designated areas.