The state of Ohio recently announced that three communities will receive grants totaling more than $1.7 million from the Ohio Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Development Program. The communities will use the funds to assist four firms, which are investing nearly $9.5 million in projects that are expected to create 106 jobs.
Ottawa County will receive a $305,000 grant to assist Fellhauer Mechanical Systems, Inc. The company, located in Portage Township, provides electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling repair; and home theater installations. The County will loan the CDBG funds to Fellhauer Mechanical Systems to purchase the 12,800 square-foot facility it currently leases.
The company plans to renovate the building and purchase additional machinery and equipment. The $695,000 project will create 16 jobs.
The City of Delaware will receive a $500,000 grant to assist Sky Climber, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) and a $475,000 grant to assist V&P Hydraulic Products, LLC. Sky Climber designs, manufactures and markets suspended access equipment for commercial and industrial applications. The company plans to purchase 6.2 acres of land located on Pittsburgh Drive, where it will construct a 45,000 square-foot manufacturing facility and relocate operations from Georgia.
The City will loan the CDBG funds to the company to purchase the land and machinery and equipment. The $2.7 million project will create 41 jobs.
V&P Hydraulic Products manufactures custom welded mobile hydraulic cylinders for the mining, construction, fire fighting, nursery and forklift industries. In order to expand and meet increased customer demand, the company plans to purchase 6.5 acres of land located on Pittsburgh Drive, construct a 45,000 square-foot building and relocate operations from another facility in Delaware.
The City will loan the CDBG Program funds to the company to purchase the land and machinery and equipment. The $4.8 million project will create 25 jobs.
Vinton County will receive a $500,000 grant to assist Alternative Liquid Fuels (ALF) Industries, Inc. with a business start up. ALF, Inc. plans to establish a 3.5 million-gallon per year bio-diesel manufacturing operation on 10 acres of land in the Vinton County Industrial Park.
The CDBG funds will be used to purchase property, machinery and equipment and construct a 5,000 square-foot facility. The $1.3 million project will create 24 jobs in this Appalachian community.
The CDBG Economic Development Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development and provides funding for economic development projects that create and/or retain permanent, private-sector job opportunities.
The grants enable local governments to make public improvements directly related to business development and financial assistance to private entities for economic development projects. Jobs created through this program must benefit primarily low- and moderate-income Ohioans.
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