News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $800,000 in Rapid Outreach and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to businesses and communities to aid in the growth and development of businesses, including two ethanol facilities. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 302 jobs and retain 542 positions.

"Proper infrastructure and equipment are crucial for communities and businesses that are seeking strategies for economic growth," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We are pleased to assist these companies and communities that are working in partnership to attract new jobs and maintain existing investment to keep Ohioans working."Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $800,000 in Rapid Outreach and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to businesses and communities to aid in the growth and development of businesses, including two ethanol facilities. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 302 jobs and retain 542 positions. Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $800,000 in Rapid Outreach and Roadwork Development grants have been awarded to businesses and communities to aid in the growth and development of businesses, including two ethanol facilities. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 302 jobs and retain 542 positions.

"Proper infrastructure and equipment are crucial for communities and businesses that are seeking strategies for economic growth," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We are pleased to assist these companies and communities that are working in partnership to attract new jobs and maintain existing investment to keep Ohioans working."

Armor Holdings Survivability Systems, LLC (Armor Holdings), located in Union Township (Clermont County), will receive a $50,000 Rapid Outreach Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Armor Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Armor Holdings, Inc., and is a leading manufacturer and provider of specialized security products, training and support services. It focuses on vehicle armor systems, military helicopter seating systems, air craft and land vehicle safety systems and other technologies to protect humans in life threatening and catastrophic situations. Armor Holdings will consolidate existing operations in the City of Fairfield and West Chester Township to a new 465,220 square-foot facility in Union Township in order to streamline operations and increase efficiencies. The company will invest of $7 million in building acquisition and $30 million in machinery and equipment. The equipment to be purchased includes: autoclaves, conveyors, glass washers, vacuum bag systems, a flat bed press, edgers, an automated glass loading system, a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) glass cutting table and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Florida and Kentucky for this project, which will create 150 jobs and retain 542 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Fostoria Ethanol, LLC (Fostoria Ethanol), to be located in Fostoria (Seneca County), will receive a $50,000 Rapid Outreach Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Fostoria Ethanol is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Poet LLC (Poet), formerly known as Broin Companies. Poet is an ethanol engineering, management, and construction firm that has designed and constructed 22 operating ethanol plants, with nine more currently under construction. Poet currently manages, produces and markets nearly one billion gallons of ethanol annually, making it the second largest ethanol producer in the United States. Fostoria Ethanol will build a 50,000 square-foot ethanol facility on 250 acres that will produce 60 million-gallons of ethanol a year as well as by-products of carbon dioxide and dried distiller grains. The $56 million in machinery and equipment to be acquired includes: conveyors, filters, storage tanks and reservoirs, hammer mills, hammer mill feeders, fermenters, evaporators, condensers, heaters and chillers, cooling towers, agitators, pumps, centrifuges, spray balls and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Indiana and Michigan for this $60 million project, which is expected to create 41 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Marion Ethanol, LLC (Marion Ethanol), to be located in Marion (Marion County), will receive a $50,000 Rapid Outreach Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Marion Ethanol is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Poet LLC (Poet), formerly known as Broin Companies. Poet is an ethanol engineering, management, and construction firm that has designed and constructed 22 operating ethanol plants, with nine more currently under construction. Poet currently manages, produces and markets nearly one billion gallons of ethanol annually, making it the second largest ethanol producer in the United States. Marion Ethanol will build a 50,000 square-foot ethanol facility on 284 acres that will produce 60 million-gallons of ethanol a year as well as by-products of carbon dioxide and dried distiller grains. The $56 million in machinery and equipment to be acquired includes: conveyors, filters, storage tanks and reservoirs, hammer mills, hammer mill feeders, fermenters, evaporators, condensers, heaters and chillers, cooling towers, agitators, pumps, centrifuges, spray balls and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Indiana and Michigan for this $60 million project, which is expected to create 41 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Sonoco Products Company, Inc. (Sonoco), to be located in Columbus (Franklin County), will receive a $50,000 Rapid Outreach Grant (412) for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment. Sonoco is the world's largest producer of composite cans and is a leader in rigid paperboard containers and serves industrial and consumer customers in 85 nations. Sonoco is headquartered in South Carolina, and employs more than 17,000 people at 300 manufacturing and sales locations in 35 countries. Sonoco will lease an 119,415 square-foot building to manufacture high-barrier, blow-molded plastic bottles for liquid nutritional drinks. These bottles are a new manufacturing line for the company and the facility will allow room for future growth and the manufacturing of other packaging products. The $10.5 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: blow molders, reamers, air rinsers, leak testers, vision systems, extrusion systems, conveyors, packaging systems and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Wisconsin for this project, which is expected to create 30 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

Mahoning County will receive a $600,000 Roadwork Development Grant (629) to complete public roadwork improvements in support of B.J. Alan Company's (BJ Alan) proposed new facility in Beaver Township. BJ Alan is an importer, manufacturer, retailer and wholesaler of consumer fireworks. The company was formed in 1977 and is the second largest importer and wholesaler of fireworks in the United States. The company operates permanent showrooms in 12 states and owns numerous brand names of fireworks including Phantom and Wolfpack. BJ Alan proposes to construct a new 350,000 square-foot warehouse facility in the Calla Road Industrial Park for a fireworks import and wholesale operations. Mahoning County will improve 3,200 lineal feet of Calla Road, from State Route 7 to State Route 626. The work includes restoration and replacement of pavement, reconstruction of berms, ditches and storm drainage, and installation of 2,164 lineal feet of four-inch ductile-force sanitary sewer main within the road right-of-way. The County will also construct a 1,060 lineal foot roadway off of Calla Road into the Industrial Park. Ohio is in competition with Pennsylvania for this project, which is expected to create 40 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

The Rapid Outreach Grant (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.

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