FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that more than $1.7 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 436 positions and retain 620 jobs for Ohioans.

"Infrastructure and economic growth are closely linked when weighing the future success of companies and communities," said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "These businesses and communities in Northwest and Southwest Ohio are outstanding partners with the State in driving economic development in these regions."

The City of Fremont (Sandusky County) will receive a $100,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of The Fremont Company's (Fremont Company) expansion. The Fremont Company makes and cans sauerkraut and sauces for retail and food service customers under brand names that include Franks, Snowfloss, and Mississippi Barbeque Sauce. The family-owned and operated company was founded in Fremont in 1905 and employs approximately 300 people. The company proposes to expand its operations initially with the upgrade of water, sewer, and drainage lines on-site as well as repaving on-site private roadways. Later phases of expansion may include the construction of a new building. The City of Fremont will upgrade Liberty and Milton Streets to support the expansion. The roads, which lead from the closest highway to the company's facility, will be re-enforced and repaved to better handle truck traffic. The City will also install storm sewers underneath the roadway to improve drainage and increase the size of old water and sanitary sewer lines underneath the road. The $450,000 in roadwork includes: excavation, grading, base, pavement, all utilities within the road right-of-way, and related construction. Ohio is in competition with multiple undisclosed states for this project, which is expected to create 33 jobs and retain 35 positions within the first three years of the project’s initial operations.

Charles River Laboratories, Inc (CRL), located in the Village of Spencerville (Allen County), will receive a $150,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company’s expansion. CRL is a global provider of solutions that advance the drug discovery and development process. The company's leading-edge products and services enable its clients to bring drugs to market faster and more efficiently. Established in 1947, CRL is headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts and operates 101 production facilities in 17 countries, and it has 8,000 employees worldwide. The company proposes to construct a new 58,000 square foot addition to its existing 55,000-square-foot building to expand its operations in Spencerville. The company will also construct a 15,000-square-foot mezzanine to house the building's HVAC system. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: a cage washer, a 1,500-kilowatt stationary generator, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Massachusetts, Nevada, and the Canadian province of Quebec for this $12.6 million project, which is expected to create 80 jobs and retain 204 positions within the first three years of the project’s initial operations.

Hirzel Canning Company (Hirzel), located in the Village of Ottawa (Putnam County), will receive a $30,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the water and sanitary extensions to support the company's expansion. Founded in 1923, Hirzel is a private, family-run greenhouse and farming operations company. The company's first product was sauerkraut, sold in wooden kegs and barrels. Over time, Hirzel has expanded to produce more than 100 items in retail, food service, and industrial-sized packages, including sauerkraut, tomatoes, cabbage, and jalapeno peppers. The company employs 115 people nationwide and is headquartered in the City of Northwood in Wood County. The company proposes to expand its operations in the Village of Ottawa to meet its projected sales growth. In order to accommodate this expansion, the company will install sanitary and water pipe, two sanitary manholes, a site hydrant, and pipe bedding with premium fill, and remove concrete that is buried in the soil where the two lines will run. The work to be completed includes: excavation, pipe bedding installation, pipe installation, manhole and hydrant installation, grading, and related construction. Ohio is in competition with undisclosed Hirzel facilities in other states for this project, which is expected to create eight jobs and retain15 existing positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The City of Toledo (Lucas County) will receive a $450,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of the University Advanced Technology Park that will be located adjacent to the main campus of the University of Toledo Health Science Campus. The University Advanced Technology Park will focus on attracting biomedical and other science and technology-oriented businesses and is expected to attract other high-paying jobs to the area and serve as an economic catalyst for Northwest Ohio. The park will cover 233 acres and will open up the 62.23 acres of land that are currently not accessible by road. The City of Toledo will construct a new public roadway to provide access to the new Park. The proposed roadway will run south and west, starting from Arlington Avenue to the north and running west from the existing Research Drive. The roadway will continue westerly and will end with a cul-de-sac. The new road will open all of the remaining acreage in the Technology Park that is not currently served by public roadways. The $3.905 million in roadwork to be completed includes: engineering, excavation, grading, base, pavement, construction of all utilities within the road's right-of-way, construction of curbs and sidewalks, and related construction. The American National Red Cross plans to locate a blood processing center on a portion of the land opened up by the new roadway that would create approximately 180 jobs. Ohio is in competition with Michigan for the blood processing center.

The Village of Kalida (Putnam County) will receive a $125,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of Unverferth Mfg Co., Inc's (Unverferth) expansion. Unverferth is a leading manufacturer and marketer of tillage equipment, manure and grain handling equipment, and agricultural dual and specialty wheels. Established in 1948, the family-owned company is headquartered in the Village of Kalida and currently operates three manufacturing locations including the Kalida site, Delphos, Ohio, and Shell Rock, Iowa. Unverferth proposes to construct a new 68,000 square-foot facility alongside its current facility in the Village of Kalida. The increase in facility space will allow the company to expand its production lines. The Village of Kalida will add a turn lane on U.S. Route 224 West at the site of Unverferth's expanded facility. The new turn lane will allow for the safe passage of the increased truck traffic due to the expansion. The roadwork to be completed includes: excavation, grading, base, pavement, all utilities within the road right-of-way, and related construction. In addition, Unverfeth will receive a $15,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support its expansion. The $1.07 million in machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: robotic systems, press brakes, hoists, computer servers, a new Enterprise Resource Planning computer system, a communications system, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Iowa for this $3.17 million project, which is expected to create 25 jobs and retain 250 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Schindler Elevator Corporation (Schindler), located in the Village of Holland (Lucas County), will receive a $500,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition and installation of machinery and equipment to support the company’s consolidation of operations. Schindler is the North American operating entity of the Swiss-based Schindler Group, the world's second-largest elevator company and the world's leading escalator supplier. The company was founded in 1874 in the City of Lucerne, Switzerland. Schindler employs more than 6,500 people at more than 250 locations in North America. Its United States headquarters is located in Morristown, New Jersey. The company proposes to expand its existing 116,000-square-foot building in the Village of Holland by 20,000 square feet. The company currently operates four service and logistics centers in the States of Illinois, New Jersey, and Ohio, which will be consolidated into the single facility in the Village of Holland. The expanded facility will be utilized as a high-tech after-market service facility that will also serve as the headquarters for Research and Development and technical field support job functions. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: phone and data system equipment, Printed Circuit Board (PCB) test equipment, PCB operations structures, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with competition with Illinois and Michigan for this $2.828 million project, which is expected to create 80 jobs and retain 36 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The City of Lebanon (Warren County) will receive a $400,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of Mane Inc's (Mane) new facility. Mane is one of the top 10 worldwide suppliers of flavors and fragrances. The company began in France in 1871 as a producer of fragrant materials from regional flowers and plants and has grown to include state-of-the-art research and development facilities. The company also manufactures flavors for the food industry for products such as gum, alcohol, and potato chips. Mane proposes to relocate its manufacturing operation to a newly constructed 135,000-square-foot facility in Lebanon that will be used for its flavors business. The City of Lebanon will construct an extension to Janet Drive with a cul-de-sac. The public roadway extension will provide access to a 14.5-acre parcel for Mane's new facility, and access to 200 additional acres that were not previously available for development. The roadwork to be completed includes: excavation, grading, base, pavement, all utilities within the roads right-of-way, and related construction. Ohio is in competition with Kentucky for this more-than $5 million project, which is expected to create 30 jobs and retain 80 positions 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 Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133