FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that more than $2.9 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 could create 1,470 positions and retain 4,645 jobs for Ohioans.

"These infrastructure improvements and business expansions will have a positive and lasting effect in four communities across the State providing new growth opportunities and jobs for Ohio workers," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development.

The City of Columbus (Franklin County) will receive a $500,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of NetJets Inc.'s expansion. The City of Columbus will complete improvements to Stelzer Road. Approximately 9,500 lineal feet of road will be improved to handle increased traffic. Turn lanes and signalization will also be modified in order to accommodate traffic flow. The area of improvement runs from the intersection of Stelzer Road with James Road and Alleghany Avenue south to its intersection with Johnstown Road. The section of road between East Fifth Avenue and Johnstown Road will be addressed first. NetJets is the world leader in private aviation. The company was founded in 1964, and operates as a fractional aircraft ownership program operating more than 650 private aircraft. NetJets and its sister company FlightSafety will complete major expansion projects to create a world-class aeronautical campus. The companies will construct a new 100,000 square foot building as well as expand their existing 192,554 square foot building by 415,000 square feet. The companies' combined campus will expand from its current size of approximately 19 acres to more than 120 acres. The roadwork to be completed includes: engineering, excavation, grading, base, pavement, all utilities within the road's right-of-way, and related construction. The more-than $203 million project is expected to create 810 positions and retain 1,974 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

Crawford County will receive a $343,250 Roadwork Development Grant to construct Stetzer Road, a public roadway, as part of the Stetzer Road South Industrial Park in the City of Bucyrus. Crawford County will construct 1,725 linear feet of roadway complete with curb and gutter to provide access to the Stetzer Road South Industrial Park. Crawford County is developing the Stetzer Road South Industrial Park on 88 acres of greenfield farmland located on the east side of the City of Bucyrus, approximately two-thirds of a mile from the new U.S. Route 30. To support the park, the City of Bucyrus will install 3,000 linear feet of 12-inch water main to include eight taps and hydrants and bore underneath railroad tracks on the southern boundary of the industrial park to loop into another main with an adjacent tower. This will provide adequate pressure to sustain the needs of the industrial park. Weithman Rentals Ltd. and C. Randolf Strauch will provide 3.75 acres of land for a dedicated 60 linear foot right-of-way and five additional acres for storm water retention. BC&G Weithman Construction will construct the 1,725 feet of roadway with curb and gutter along with 300 linear feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer and 1,868 linear feet of storm sewer.

Miba Sinter USA, LLC (Miba Sinter), located in Morgan Township (Morgan County), will receive a $120,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's expansion. Miba Sinter is a wholly owned subsidiary of Miba AG. Miba AG was founded in the City of Laakirchen, Austria as a mechanics shop in 1927. The company has grown into a global strategic supplier of components in the automotive, truck, marine, locomotive, compressor, and industrial equipment markets. Miba Sinter will begin new manufacturing operations in Morgan County. The company will locate in a new 35,000 square-foot building that will be constructed and owned by the Morgan County Investment Corporation (Morgan CIC). Miba Sinter will sign a 16-year lease with three 15-year extension options. This facility will allow Miba Sinter to meet increased North American demand for products that it currently manufactures in Austria. This new building is adjacent to the current Miba Bearings facility in Morgan County, which will continue operations. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes an Osterwalder KKP 4500, a 500-ton compaction press. The $26 million project is expected to create 60 positions and retain 271 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

General Motors Corporation (GM), located in the Village of Lordstown (Trumbull County), will receive a $2 million Rapid Outreach Grant for the costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's renovation and update of its manufacturing facility. GM, founded in 1908, manufactures and markets automobiles, automotive systems, engines, heavy-duty automatic transmissions, component parts, and locomotives worldwide. The company is the world's largest automaker and employs more than 284,000 people worldwide. GM will complete building renovations and purchase assembly tools. The company will renovate the Lordstown facility to produce a next-generation, fuel efficient global small car program. The new car will be designed to set quality and safety benchmarks for the compact car class, and will represent the first U.S. application of GM's global architecture strategy. The machinery and equipment to be purchased includes: engine motor compartment machining centers, inner and outer framing equipment, underbody main line equipment, inner and outer body-side equipment, and related equipment. Ohio is in competition with numerous GM U.S. locations for this $317 million project, which is expected to create 600 positions and retain 2,400 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operations.

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