FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $2.4 million in economic development and roadwork development grants have been awarded to aid in the growth of businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 40 positions and retain 3,955 jobs for Ohioans.

"Supporting our State's workers and businesses with improved technology, equipment, and infrastructure enhancements increases productivity and capacity," said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Building on the strengths of these businesses and making these critical improvements around the State ensures that Ohio's regional economies are growing and prospering."

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG), to be located in Miami Township (Clermont County), will receive a $70,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's expansion. PPG was founded in Pittsburgh in 1883 and manufactures coatings, glass, and chemicals products. It operates in five segments, including Industrial Coatings, Performance and Applied Coatings, Optical and Specialty Materials, Commodity Chemicals, and Glass. PPG's Packaging Coatings'North American headquarters and research and development center is currently located in Miami Township and PPG has more than 30,000 employees worldwide operating manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries. The company proposes to invest in machinery and equipment, leasehold improvements and lease an additional 500 square-foot facility and renew its current lease. The facility will be utilized for research and development, administrative, and headquarters operations. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes peel testers, flex testers, a high-speed tab press, micrometers, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin for this $796,000 project, which is expected to create ten positions and retain 55 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

General Motors Corporation (GM), to be located in Moraine (Montgomery County), will receive a $300,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's investment in its DMAX, Ltd. facility in Moraine. GM was founded in 1908 and manufactures and markets automobiles, automotive systems, engines, heavy-duty automatic transmissions, component parts, and locomotives worldwide. DMAX is a joint venture between GM and Isuzu Motors Limited to manufacture and sell diesel engines. In 2003, GM took over the majority stake in DMAX, including engine designs. GM proposes to invest in machinery and equipment to support the 6.6 liter V8 Duramax diesel emissions and performance upgrade program. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes oil lead testers, water leak testers, fuel pump testing stations, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with numerous U.S. locations for this $63.5 million project, which is expected to retain 1,000 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Ecommerce, Inc., to be located in Columbus (Franklin County), will receive a $30,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition and installation of machinery and equipment to support the company's new operation. Ecommerce, Inc. was founded in 1999 as a major provider of internet-related services including Web site development, Web hosting, and other internet services. The company currently has a base of more than 50,000 customers and is headquartered in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The company proposes to establish a new data center in Columbus to expand its bandwidth capacity and enable better service to its growing customer base. The machinery and equipment to be purchased for the new facility includes dry coolers, electrical systems for server rooms, servers, racks, routing equipment, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, for this more than $1 million project, which is expected to create 30 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The Summit County Port Authority, will receive a $2 million Roadwork Development Grant for costs associated with public roadwork to support The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's new headquarters project in Akron. Goodyear is the third-largest tire company in the world and manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 60 facilities in 26 countries around the world. Goodyear employs about 70,000 people worldwide, manufacturing tires for automobiles, race cars, airplanes, and heavy machinery; as well as rubber hoses, shoe soles, and parts for electric printers. The company has also been extensively involved in the aerospace, military, and hardware technology industries. Goodyear is partnering with the State, the City of Akron, Summit County, the Summit County Port Authority, and Industrial Realty Group to build a new headquarters and research and development center. The Port Authority will complete public roadwork in support of the new headquarters. With the assistance of the City of Akron, the Port Authority will relocate, construct new, or reconstruct existing roadways in the area bounded by Interstate 76, Martha Venue, Massillon Road and the Goodyear test track. The roadwork to be completed includes excavation, grading, base, pavement, utilities within the road's right-of-way, installation of traffic signals, bridge construction, and related construction. Goodyear's expansion will retain 2,900 positions.

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: Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133 or Kimber Perfect at (614) 466-2609