News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today announced that the Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved Job Creation Tax Credits for companies involved in business location or expansion projects that, if located in Ohio, are expected to contribute $51.7 million to Ohio's economy, retain 165 positions and create 611 family-supporting jobs.

"The State of Ohio is dedicated to advancing our state's economy by creating, retaining and attracting jobs worthy of Ohio workers," said Lt. Governor Fisher who also serves as state development director. "The projects approved today for Job Creation Tax Credits will help our communities and our people thrive by fostering a favorable business climate that will create professional opportunities for Ohio's outstanding workforce."

Logistics Support Management Group, LLC (LSMG), to be located in Mad River Township (Clark County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a research and development and testing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $507,296 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. LSMG was established in 2004 and designs, tests and fabricates prototypes for manufactured parts. As a U.S. Government General Service Administration (GSA) contractor, LSMG's primary focus is on military hardware and the U.S. Air Force's aircraft systems. The company has also identified several industrial customers for which it can perform testing and laboratory services. The company proposes to construct a 50,000 square-foot research and development (R&D) and testing facility for its Rapid Qualification/Certification/Inspection (QCI) of manufactured parts program. LSMG will invest at least $2 million for new R&D and laboratory equipment and LSMG principles will construct a facility to house the R&D, Engineering Technology, and Materiel Laboratory Testing divisions, which will perform R&D and testing to enhance the capabilities of the construction, aviation, automotive, and consumer products industries, as well as for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Ohio is in competition with Alabama and Oklahoma for this $5 million project, which is expected to create 125 jobs and retain six positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Sonoco Products Company, to be located in the Village of Obetz (Franklin County), has been awarded a 45 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a new manufacturing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $64,067 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. Founded in 1899, Sonoco is the world's largest producer of composite cans and is a leader in rigid paperboard containers. Headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina, Sonoco employs more than 17,000 people at 300 manufacturing and sales locations in 35 countries and serves customers in 85 nations. The company proposes to acquire an existing 121,000 square-foot facility to house two blow molded plastic bottle manufacturing lines and all ancillary equipment. Sonoco plans to invest $700,000 in renovations, $10.5 million for new machinery and equipment and $3.5 million for the facility, where it will manufacture blow molded plastic bottles and other packaging products. This more than $14.7 million project is expected to create 30 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Think-A-Move, Ltd., located in the Beachwood (Cuyahoga County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a five-year term to expand its existing facility. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $142,942 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. Think-A-Move is a privately-held research and development firm that uses advanced mathematics, programming and engineering to create new commercial technologies. The company is currently developing human-device or human-machine interface technologies based on its proprietary Think-A-Move technology platform. This technology takes advantage of the human ear's ability to act as an output device, and serves as the platform for the company's licensable technologies. Think-A-Move's startup funding came from private investors and grants from institutions such as the National Institute of Health and the U.S. Army. The company proposes to invest $90,000 in machinery and equipment and $10,000 in leasehold renovations and expand to 4,200 square feet of space at its existing location. Ohio is in competition with Massachusetts for this $100,000 project, which is expected to create 21 jobs and retain eight positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

UltraCell Corporation, to be located in Dayton (Montgomery County), has been awarded a 75 percent tax credit for a 10-year term to establish a high volume fuel cell manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit is estimated at more than $3.9 million over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 20 years. UltraCell develops and manufacturers complete micro fuel cell systems for portable devices and has developed new technology and intellectual property in the field of methanol-based fuel cells. The company proposes to invest $21 million in new machinery and equipment and $4.3 million in leasehold improvements with the lease of 5,000 square-feet of an existing 100,000 square-foot building. The Dayton facility will be used for manufacturing and will also house administration, R&D, a training center, field service, product repair service center, test and measurement, distribution and field sales. This $25.7 million project is expected to create 235 jobs and retain three positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Resource Ventures, Ltd., dba Resource Interactive, located in Columbus (Franklin County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand its e-commerce development, advertising and marketing operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $896,158 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Resource Interactive provides channel marketing services to Apple Computer and now helps the world's leading companies plan, create, build, assess and optimize the digital experience of their customers and other constituencies. Present clients include the Coca-Cola Company; Hewlett-Packard Company; Procter & Gamble; and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The company proposes to invest $2 million in new machinery and equipment and expand and reconfigure its existing 41,825 square-foot facility to expand its e-commerce development, advertising and marketing operations. Ohio is in competition with Minnesota and New York for this project, which is expected to create 90 jobs and retain 133 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Qbase, Inc., to be located in Springfield (Clark County), has been awarded a 60 percent tax credit for a five-year term to expand to a new facility in Springfield. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $811,335 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. The company proposes to purchase new machinery and equipment and establish a new facility. Ohio is in competition with Washington, DC for this more than $4.1 million project, which is expected to create 100 jobs and retain six positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Conquest One, LLC, dba Pontis Group (Pontis Group), to be located in Dublin (Franklin County), has been awarded a 30 percent tax credit for a five-year term to expand its advertising, market research, web design and media planning operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $19,474 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. Pontis Group is a privately-owned integrated marketing and creative communications company that specializes in driving sales, building brand recognition and brand market share and increasing shareholder value for its clients. The company creates dynamic and effective solutions across all types of media to help shorten a client's sales cycle and differentiate the company from its competition. Present clients include Honeywell International Inc., National City Corporation, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and SmartJets. The company proposes to invest $100,000 in new machinery and equipment and expand its current 3,500 square-foot leased space by 500 to 1,000 additional square-feet. The facility will be used to further expand its advertising, market research, web design and media planning operation. Ohio is in competition with Michigan and New Jersey for this project, which is expected to create 10 jobs and retain nine positions 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.