FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that $515,000 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 could create 240 positions and retain 414 jobs for Ohioans.

"We are very pleased to be a partner in SENCORP and Westhaven on their efforts to strengthen increase their presence in Ohio and increase their opportunities for success," said Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Both Wood and Clermont counties have a lot to offer growing companies and businesses new to Ohio and we are pleased to assist through support of business growth and job creation in these communities."

SENCORP, to be located in Union Township (Clermont County), will receive a $315,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the purchase of machinery and equipment to support the company’s proposed new location. SENCORP is a privately-owned company based in Newport, Kentucky and is the holding company of several subsidiary companies and affiliates focusing on the manufacturing and marketing of fastening systems in the commercial and residential construction industries. The company, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, has manufacturing operations around the world, including Ohio, Colombia and China. The company proposes to invest in new machinery and equipment to support the consolidation of its non-manufacturing units into a new 100,000 square-foot corporate headquarters in Union Township. The machinery and equipment includes: a phone system, a generator, voice and data cabling, network communications equipment, computer room air conditioning systems, electric data center equipment, a security system, fire protection equipment, patch cables, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Kentucky for this $19 million project, which is expected to create 15 jobs and relocate 164 positions within the first three years of the project’s initial operations.

Westhaven Services Co., LLC (Westhaven), located in Perrysburg Township (Wood 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 in the City of Maumee (Lucas County) and consolidation of administrative services in Perrysburg Township. Westhaven, based in Perrysburg Township, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Omnicare, which provides professional pharmacy services to long-term care facilities in the Northwest Ohio area. Omnicare is headquartered in Covington, Kentucky and is a leading provider of pharmaceutical care for the elderly. Omnicare serves residents in long-term care facilities and other chronic care settings, including approximately 1.5 million beds in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Omnicare currently employs approximately 17,900 throughout the United States. Westhaven's parent company, Omnicare, Inc., proposes to consolidate administrative services, including billing, collections, medical records, and clinical support, into five regional centers. The consolidation is part of Omnicare's Full Potential Plan to create operational efficiencies. Westhaven will lease a 16,000 square-foot building for its billing center in the City of Maumee and will expand its existing 45,000 square-foot Perrysburg Township location to facilitate the additional room required for a centralized hub operation. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: ALV machines (drug dispensing machines), computer servers, telephone servers, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with Ann Arbor, Detroit, Livonia, and Troy, Michigan for this more than $3.5 million project, which is expected to create 225 jobs and retain 250 positions within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

The Rapid Outreach Grant program assists companies and communities that are creating or retaining jobs in Ohio.

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