News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that eight counties have been awarded more than $2.8 million from the Industrial Site Improvement Fund (ISIF), which provides grants to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas.

"The Industrial Site Improvement Fund Program helps us meet the needs of Ohio communities developing properties for future use by business prospects that present tremendous opportunities for job creation," said Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Key to Ohio's economic development strategy is making the best use of existing properties that have great potential for attracting investment and jobs worthy of Ohioans."

The ISIF is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to $500,000, or 75 percent of the total costs incurred under a project, in assistance to eligible Ohio counties for the purpose of improving qualified commercial and industrial areas. The program assists economically disadvantaged counties to improve industrial or commercial sites by acquiring land or buildings; expanding and modernizing buildings; remediating environmentally contaminated property; and completing utility and transportation infrastructure improvements.

ISIF applications are evaluated based on the county’s distress level, the project's feasibility and implementation plan, local and private financial participation and the economic and community impact of the project. Industrial Site Improvement Fund assistance available during FY 2007 marks the third funding round since the program’s inception.

2007 ISIF grant awards:

Pike County, will receive $440,000 for a waterline extension to the Pike County Manufacturing Center, located on the west side of U.S. Route 23 in Scioto Township. The county will improve a 212-acre site to accommodate future investment by the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, Glockner Oil, and additional business prospects. Work to be completed includes installation of 21,648 lineal feet (4.1 miles) of county waterline from the current end of the county water system into the Center; construction of an elevated storage tank to provide adequate fire suppression; installation of fire hydrants along the access road into the Center; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $885,000.

Clermont County will receive $263,000 for improvements to the Batavia Industrial Park, located in Batavia Township. The county will improve an 86-acre site to accommodate future investment by one or more business prospects. Work to be completed at the site includes construction of a 1,235 lineal foot extension of Armstrong Road into the project site; construction of a culvert; extension of eight-inch water main along the new road’s right-of-way; extension of eight-inch sewer main along the road’s right-of-way; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $617,500.

Southeastern Ohio Port Authority (SeOPA), located in Washington County, will receive $300,000 for improvements to the Washington County Business Park, located on State Route 7 in Marietta Township. SeOPA will improve a 27-acre site to accommodate future investment by one or more business prospects. Work to be completed at the site includes the extension of a sanitary sewer line for 3,270 lineal feet to the project site; installation of a lift station; installation of 865 lineal feet of eight-inch gravity sanitary sewer; extension of 12-inch water line approximately 600 lineal feet along and underneath State Route 7; installation of 850 lineal feet of 12-inch water line into the site; construction of 841 lineal feet of concrete access road with a cul-de-sac; installation of storm drains and detention basins; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the site are estimated to be $766,997.

Monroe County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) will receive $209,641 for improvements related to the Black Walnut Center Renovation project, located at Black Walnut Parkway off County Road 27 in Center Township. The CIC will improve the unoccupied 19,000 square-feet of a 22,500-square foot building to accommodate future investment by one or more business prospects. Work to be completed at the site includes construction of a 1,280 square-foot office and restroom space; pouring of an 87-foot by 175-foot concrete floor for the remaining 17,720 square-feet of unoccupied space; installation of an additional light industrial power feed to allow for sufficient electricity for a small manufacturing operation; installation of an emergency backup generator; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $279,521.

Cuyahoga County will receive $500,000 for improvements to a site located at East 222nd Street, from South Marginal Road to Euclid Avenue in the City of Euclid. The county will improve a one-mile section of roadway to accommodate future investment by businesses on 70 vacant industrially-zoned acres along East 222nd Street and/or the 40 additional companies that utilize the roadway. Work to be completed at the site includes lowering East 222nd Street by nine to twelve inches for 300 lineal feet beneath CSX Transportation’s rail bridge; improvement of the turning radii at all intersections between Interstate 90 and Euclid Avenue on East 222nd Street; improved signage along the East 222nd Street corridor; and related construction. This program-related roadwork is part of Cuyahoga County's larger East 222nd Street Industrial Corridor Realignment Project.

Tipp City (Miami County) will receive $288,614 for improvements to the Northgate Commerce Center Industrial Park, located at the intersection of Blauser Drive and Kinna Drive in Tipp City. The city will improve a 97-acre site to accommodate future investment by Transfreight, LLC and additional business prospects. Work to be completed at the site includes acquisition of land for new road construction and rights-of-way; construction of a 675 lineal foot extension of Kinna Drive to the north 800 lineal feet extension of Kinna Road to the south; installation of 12-inch water main with all services, to the project site; extension of sanitary sewer lines to the project site; extension of storm sewer lines, to the project site; extension of electric services from the northern edge of the project site to the southern edge of the project site, as well as installation of cobra street lights; installation of cable, broadband internet, phone, and gas services to the project site; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $1,060,000.

Athens County will receive $341,240 for improvements to a facility located at 1055 East State Street in the City of Athens. The county will improve the 215,000 square-foot site to accommodate future investment by Diagnostics Hybrid, Inc., which will initially lease 50,000 square-feet of space, and additional future tenants. Work to be completed includes the addition of a six-stall bathroom suite; installation of additional aggregate over the entire roof; upgrades to the automatic sprinkler system; replacement of the worn carpet in the 48,000 square-foot office section of the building; installation of a security system; painting the interior of the office area; replacement of the HVAC system; extension of the parking lots on the north side of the building and resurfacing of all of lots; replacement of reflective ceiling and lighting; repairing and painting of the building façade; relocking and re-keying exterior and interior security points; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $1,342,000.

Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) of Steubenville (Jefferson County) will receive $482,505 to make improvements to the former Hancock Manufacturing site, located at North 5th Street in the City of Toronto. The CIC will improve a seven-acre site to accommodate future investment by business prospects. Work to be completed at the site includes demolition of a 6,600 square-foot office building; installation of 1,000 lineal feet of overhead and underground piping to connect potable water lines to the main building; completion of treatment of interior piping; connection of sewer, water, electric and gas to the main building; replacement of the roof on the 75,832 square-foot main building; installation of flashing, a gutter system and downspouts at the building; and related construction. The eligible development costs at the project site are estimated to be $643,340.

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Media contacts: Melissa Ament at (614) 466-6619 or Maria Smith at (614) 466-2382