FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that the Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved Job Creation Tax Credits for six businesses involved in location or expansion projects that, if located in Ohio, are expected to create 264 jobs, and retain 882 positions for Ohioans.

"These potential expansion projects have come together by working with businesses and further strengthening our strong partnerships with economic development officials around the State," said Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "To continually advance our economy, Ohio must retain the businesses we already have by supporting reinvestment in our communities and workforce."

Turning Technologies, LLC, located in Youngstown (Mahoning County), has been awarded a 35 percent credit for a six-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $131,268 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 12 years. Turning was formed in 2002 with the vision of making audience response technology widely available to the educational and professional markets. The company's TurningPoint software was developed to work seamlessly with Microsoft Powerpoint. The company proposes to invest in technology tools and software and expand its current operating space in the Taft Technology Center to continue to house headquarters and research and development operations. Ohio is in competition with California and Oregon for this $2 million project, which is expected to create 50 positions and retain 99 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Deflecto Corporation, located in Dover (Tuscarawas County), has been awarded a 40 percent credit for a five-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $35,025 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 10 years. For more than 40 years, Deflecto has been a leading manufacturer and distributor in a number of important markets. The inventor of the heat register air deflector, Deflecto has branched out to become the supplier of choice in the air distribution, dryer venting, office products, and literature display industries. The company's customers have consistently ranked Deflecto as the supplier of choice for the many products they manufacture. The company proposes to purchase new machinery and equipment and relocate to another building on its current site, which was formerly used in large steel manufacturing and has been upgraded to a multi-tenant industrial park. The company has entered into a new lease contract with the current landlord, the Port Authority, which will meet the requirements of the Job Creation Tax Credit. Ohio is in competition with Indiana for this $1 million project, which is expected to create 25 positions and retain 69 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

KCI Holding USA, Inc., located in Springfield (Clark County), has been awarded a 50 percent credit for a six-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $158,620 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 12 years. KCI Holding USA, Inc. owns Konecranes, Inc. and R & M Materials Handling, Inc. Konecranes Inc. is a manufacturer of cranes and other industrial lifting equipment, operating three main business units: maintenance services, standard lifting equipment, and special cranes. Products include heavy duty cranes, industrial cranes, light lifting equipment, and shipyard cranes. KCI Holdings USA offers such services as consulting, inspection, maintenance, and parts replacement. The company serves the automotive, harbor, power, and steel industries, among others. The company proposes to invest in new machinery and equipment and build a 24,360 square-foot addition to its 15,200 square-foot facility to consolidate an off-site data center to a single location and expand its training operations. Ohio is in competition with Texas for this more-than $3 million project, which is expected to create 34 jobs and retain 178 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Nexergy, Inc, located in Columbus (Franklin County), has been awarded a 40 percent credit for a six-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $97,867 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for 12 years. Nexergy is a private company started in 2000 and headquartered in Columbus. The company was created by the owners of Promark Electronics to consolidate the knowledge base and financial resources of three major regional companies - DC Battery Products, Tauber Electronics, and Promark Electronics - and form one of the largest suppliers of custom battery packs. Nexergy is now a leading designer, integrator, and manufacturer of rechargeable battery packs and chargers. The company is principally engaged in the business of assembling, distributing, and selling batteries, custom battery pack assemblies, battery pack chargers, custom cable assemblies, and other miscellaneous electronic components. Nexergy sells to Original Equipment Manufacturers in the portable medical equipment, computers and printers, safety and security, test and measurement, data acquisition, small appliances and power tools, and military and aerospace markets. The company proposes to purchase new machinery and equipment to add capacity. Ohio is in competition with California for this $200,000 project, which is expected to create 75 jobs and retain 135 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen), located in German Township (Clark County), has been awarded a 45 percent credit for a five-year term to expand operations at two facilities. The value of the tax credit is estimated at $72,495 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project sites for 10 years. Sutphen was founded in 1890 and the oldest fire fighting apparatus design and manufacturing company in the country. The company currently has five locations with a total of 275 employees. The company proposes to purchase new machinery and equipment, and add 20,000 square-feet to its current facility, which manufactures fire trucks and components. Ohio is in competition with Georgia, Louisianna, Tennessee, and South Carolina for this $900,000 project, which is expected to create 30 jobs and retain 76 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Columbus-based (Franklin County) Liebert North America, Inc. has been awarded a tax credit package to help expand operations at its Ironton (Lawrence County) manufacturing facility. Under Ohio's Job Creation Tax Credit Program, Liebert will be able to purchase new machinery and equipment to expand its existing 194,000 square foot facility in Ironton by approximately 10,000-to-12,000 square feet. Once completed, the expansion is expected to add positions to Liebert's Ironton workforce over the next three years. Liebert is a brand of Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson, providing a variety of mission-critical power and cooling technologies for datacenter, telecommunications, and industrial applications.

The Job Creation Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit against the business corporate franchise or income tax. The credit equals a percentage of new state income tax withheld on new, full-time employees in Ohio. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority is a five-member independent board consisting of taxation and economic development professionals from throughout the State that is responsible for reviewing and approving applications for state tax credit assistance. The Authority also has oversight responsibilities that include monitoring and reporting the progress of approved tax credit projects.

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Media contacts: Melissa Vince at (614) 466-6619 or Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133