FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $410,000 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 273 positions and retain 664 jobs for Ohioans.

"These three companies are focused on innovative technologies in water management, alternative energies and biopharmaceuticals and are significant additions to Ohio as we expand our advanced technology and life sciences industries," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "We are extremely pleased with these partnerships and will continue working to support the success of Crown Solutions, Kendle International, and Marion Ethanol in Ohio."

Crown Solutions Co., LLC (Crown Solutions) , located in Vandalia (Montgomery County), will receive a $200,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company’s expansion. Crown Solutions was incorporated in 1984 in the City of Vandalia and provides total water resources to more than 450 clients. Services include engineering support, water treatment equipment, chemical management services, analyzer and equipment maintenance, outsourced high purity and wastewater operating contracts, and fully engineered turn-key design build water projects to over 450 clients. The company proposes to establish a Chemical Competency Center and a Membrane Treatability Lab, as well as provide technical support and product development for other North American and South American business units of its parent company, Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies. In support of the expansion, the company will purchase machinery and equipment including an orbital welder, 20-ton bridge cranes, bending and shearing equipment, a laser/water jet table, a borascope (magnifier) with digital hookup, a sand-blasting booth, a groover, welding equipment, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Indiana for this more than $5.1 million project, which is expected to create 157 jobs and retain 106 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Kendle International, Inc. (Kendle), located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), will receive a $100,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company’s expansion. Kendle is among the world's leading global clinical research organizations. The company delivers clinical development solutions, including everything from first-in-human studies to market launch for biopharmaceutical companies to help maximize product life cycles and grow market share. The company also provides a full line of clinical development and regulatory services to help accelerate the drug development process. Kendle proposes to add space at its existing facility and purchase machinery and equipment to support its expansion. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes global IT equipment, networking team servers and server room, global telephony server equipment, an IT core switch, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Kentucky for this more than $4 million project, which is expected to create 75 positions and retain 558 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Marion County will receive an $110,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of Marion Ethanol, LLC’s new facility in Marion Township. Marion Ethanol is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Poet LLC, 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. Currently, Poet manages, produces, and markets nearly 1 billion gallons of ethanol annually, making it the second largest ethanol producer in the United States. Marion Ethanol proposes to build a 60 million gallon, 50,000 square-foot ethanol facility on 284 acres in Marion Township that will produce ethanol and have by-products of carbon dioxide and dried distiller grains. In support of the project, Marion County will improve approximately 2,328 lineal feet of Hillman Ford Road at the proposed site located between Pleasant Hill Road and Marion-Williamsport Road West near the CSX railway line. The roadwork to be completed includes: excavation, grading, base, pavement, storm sewers within the road right-of-way, and related construction. Ohio is in competition with the Indiana and Michigan for this more than $116 million project, which is expected to create 41 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operations.

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 Kimber Perfect at (614) 466-2609