Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced that the Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved Job Creation Tax Credits for 15 companies involved in business location or expansion projects that, if located in Ohio, are expected to create 1,673 jobs and retain 2,086 positions.

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. Some of the additional state assistance is contingent upon the approval of the State Controlling Board.

InfoCision Management Corporation, to be located in Columbus (Franklin County), has been awarded a 50 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a call center operation. The value of the tax credit will be $236,112 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 10 years. InfoCision is a leading provider of outbound and inbound services for nonprofit, religious, political and commercial organizations. The company proposes to lease approximately 20,000 square feet of space within 200 East Crosswoods Center where it would establish a call center operation. Ohio is in competition with Pennsylvania and West Virginia for this more than $1 million project, which is expected to create 250 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes an Ohio Investment in Training Program grant at an amount that has not yet been determined.

Jenne Distributors, Inc. & Jenne Family LLP, located in Avon (Lorain County), has been awarded a 50 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand its distribution operation. The value of the tax credit will be $192,292 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the site for 14 years. Jenne is a leading North American distributor of business telephone and computer telephony products. Jenne has experienced significant sales and employment growth in recent years and finds it necessary to expand to remain competitive and grow further. The proposed project includes constructing a 30,000 square-foot expansion of the company’s existing service/distribution facility and purchasing new machinery and equipment. The more than $3.4 million project is expected to retain 66 positions and create 30 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

First State Plastics, Inc. (FSP), to be located in Toledo (Lucas County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a manufacturing facility. The value of the tax credit will be $136,713 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 10 years. FSP recycles post-industrial plastic scrap material that it later sells to compounders, fabricators and molders. The proposed project includes the establishment of a scrap plastics recycling facility in Northwest Ohio or Southern Michigan. The $575,000 project is expected to create 48 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes an Ohio Investment in Training Program grant and a 166 Direct Loan at amounts to be determined.

The Dannon Company, Inc., located in Minster (Auglaize County), has been awarded a 55 percent Job Creation Tax Credit for a six-year term to expand its manufacturing operation. If the company chooses to expand in Minster, the value of the tax credit would be $175,398 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 12 years. This facility is Dannon's largest manufacturing operation in the US and one of the largest yogurt processing facilities in the world. The proposed project includes the expansion of the cultured dairy products manufacturing facility by adding processing and packaging equipment. Ohio is in competition with Texas and Utah for this multi-million dollar project, which, if located in Ohio, is expected to retain 390 positions and create 34 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $312,000 Community Development Block grant and a $38,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

American Way Manufacturing, Inc., Peak Land Development, LLC and Group Management Services, to be located in Lordstown (Trumbull County), have been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a six-year term to expand its manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit will be $61,828 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the site for 12 years. AWM manufactures and fabricates outdoor vinyl fencing, railings and related railing components. The company is considering an expansion, which if located in Trumbull County, would include the relocation of its existing manufacturing operations from North Jackson (Mahoning County). The company expects to construct a 50,000 square-foot facility and invest in new machinery and equipment. Ohio is in competition with Pennsylvania for this more than $2.3 million project, which is expected to retain 26 positions and create 31 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $1 million 166 Direct Loan and a $12,400 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

Member Health, Inc., located in Solon (Cuyahoga County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit will be nearly $1.5 million over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 14 years. MemberHealth operates a prescription benefit management organization, and administers the operation of packaged health benefit discount programs. The company is a leading administrator of the Medicare-approved Discount Drug Card program and expects future growth. Ohio is in competition with New York and Florida for this $830,000 project, which if located in Ohio is expected to retain 45 positions and create 189 jobs within the first three years of the projects initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $75,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

Clark-Reliance Corporation, located in Strongsville (Cuyahoga County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand its manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit will be $345,065 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. Clark-Reliance manufactures boiler trim, gages and related instrumentation for level detection and also manufactures pressure vessels and separation equipment to filter particulates from gas streams. The company proposes to consolidate operations in Georgia and Pennsylvania into its Strongsville operation. Ohio is in competition with Georgia and Pennsylvania for this more than $1.9 million project, which is expected to retain 108 positions and create 50 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $100,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

Dealer Tire, LLC, located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), has been awarded a 55 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand its headquarters operation. The value of the tax credit will be $311,964 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 14 years. Dealer Tire is a national wholesaler of tires to car dealerships and is experiencing significant growth. The company proposes to expand its headquarters operation to accommodate this increased business. Ohio is in competition with North Carolina and South Carolina for this $13.3 million project, which is expected to retain 133 positions and create 38 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Sypris Technologies Kenton, Inc. (STK), located in Kenton (Hardin County), has been awarded a 60 percent tax credit for a five-year term to expand its manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit will be $204,308 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the site for 10 years. STK specializes in the manufacture of trailer axel beams for the truck components and assemblies market. The proposed project includes an expansion to accommodate forming heavy-duty drive axels and creating seam welding manufacturing capabilities. Ohio is in competition with North Carolina and Mexico for this $7.8 million project, which is expected to retain 275 positions and create 80 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Faurecia Interior Systems USA Inc. has been awarded a 60 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to establish a manufacturing operation in Northwood (Wood County). If the company chooses to locate this operation in Northwood, the value of the tax credit would be $490,448 over the term and Faurecia would be required to maintain operations at the site for 14 years. Faurecia is a Tier I supplier of automobile interior systems including: seats, cockpits, door panels, acoustics and soft trim, front-end and exhaust systems. The company is considering a new location in Northwood where it would create an interior system assembly operation to accommodate new North American OEM contracts to supply interior systems to customers in Ohio and Michigan. Ohio is in competition with Michigan for this $3.75 million project, which is expected to create 95 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. (UPS-SCS), to be located in Cuyahoga County, has been awarded a 60 percent tax credit for a seven-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit will be $553,777 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the project site for 14 years. UPS is a global company that manages the flow of goods, funds and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company proposes to expand its central region processing center for the international brokerage operations of UPS-SCS. Ohio is in competition with existing operations in other states for this $358,000 project, which is expected to retain 204 positions and create 160 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation.

ProtecPac USA, Inc., to be located in Sidney (Shelby County), has been awarded a 65 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit will be $311,056 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the site for 10 years. ProtecPac USA is a newly formed operation that will be the United States manufacturing arm of ProtecPac, Inc., a corporation based in Canada. The products to be manufactured at the U.S. facility will include packaging products and building industry products. The company plans to lease a 42,000 square-foot manufacturing facility and invest in machinery and equipment. Ohio is in competition with Indiana for this more than $3.9 million project, which is expected to create 100 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation.

Fisher & Paykel Laundry Manufacturing, Inc., to be located in Clyde (Sandusky County), has been awarded a 65 percent tax credit for a five-year term to establish a manufacturing operation. The value of the tax credit will be $355,452 over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the site for 10 years. F&P, founded in 1934 in New Zealand, designs, manufactures and markets a range of innovative household appliances including: refrigerators and freezers, washers and dryers, ovens and cook tops, dishwashers and its highly successful Dishdrawer. The company is considering relocating its Australian manufacturing plant to this new facility, which will be the company’s first U.S. manufacturing operation. F&P plans to lease a 100,000 square-foot facility where it would manufacture washers and motors for washers. Ohio is in competition with California, North Carolina and Mexico for this more than $30.7 million project, which is expected to create 118 jobs within the first three years of the project’s initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $35,400 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

The Midland Company, located in Amelia (Clermont County), has been awarded a 65 percent tax credit for an eight-year term to expand its headquarters operation. The value of the tax credit will be more than $1.2 million over the term, and the company is required to maintain operations at the project site for 16 years. Midland is a provider of specialty insurance products and services and consists of two primary subsidiaries: American Modern Insurance Group (AMIG) and M/G Transport Services, Inc. (M/G). AMIG has a particular focus on short-term, personal lines, property insurance products, including physical damage insurance and related coverage for manufactured homes, motorcycles, watercraft, recreational vehicles, collectible automobiles, and snowmobiles. M/G currently charters barges and brokers freight for the movement of commodities on the inland waterways. The proposed project includes the expansion of Midland’s current corporate headquarters facility and a training center. Ohio is in competition with Kentucky for this $29 million project, which is expected to retain 839 positions and create 150 jobs within the first three years of the project's initial operation. Other state assistance committed to this project includes a $200,000 Roadwork Development grant and a $100,000 Ohio Investment in Training Program grant.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F), located in New Albany (Franklin County), has been awarded a 70 percent tax credit for a 10-year term to expand operations. The value of the tax credit is expected to be more than $3.4 million over the term and the company will be required to maintain operations at the site for at least 20 years. A&F is a leading specialty retailer of clothing and related merchandise targeted to pre-teens, teens and young adults. The company proposes to expand its existing headquarters and distribution operations by constructing a new 700,000 square-foot building on its campus. The distribution center will provide merchandise directly to A&F retail stores throughout the United States, as well as directly to it’s catalog and Web customers. Ohio was in competition with Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico for this $80 million project, which is expected to create 300 jobs within the first three years of the projects initial operation.

Read the original story at the Ohio Department of Development website.