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State giving $500K grant to local company

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 11:16 AM Tuesday, February 9, 2010

HAMILTON — A local paper mill has been awarded almost $500,000 from the state for a new boiler water treatment system which will reduce its energy and water usage.

SMART Papers Holdings, LLC was $439,600 by the Ohio Department of Development to install a reverse osmosis boiler feed water treatment system. It will replace an existing system installed in the 1940s, said Dan Maheu, president and chief operating officer for the company.

The company expects to begin requesting proposals for the equipment Feb. 9. The project could be running as soon as the end of the third quarter. Maheu said the new system should reduce SMART Papers coal consumption by 9,000 tons a year.

“We are really please we got our grant to support the installation of this system here. This is going to be much more energy-efficient,” Maheu said.

The funds were made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s State Energy Program. In total, 18 Ohio projects will receive more than $11.8 million in industry efficiency grants through the program, according to state officials.

These industry efficiency awards are funded through Ohio’s $96 million State Energy Program, which was accepted by the U.S. Department of Energy on June 26. Targeted industries include advanced energy, aerospace and aviation, agriculture and food processing, bioscience and bio-products, instruments, controls and electronics, motor vehicles and parts manufacturing, and polymers and advanced materials. The goal of the grants is for companies to use the funds for energy efficiency improvements in their manufacturing facilities.

“Renewable and advanced energy strategies are positioning Ohio for sustainable, long-term, and efficient growth,” said Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Gov. Ted Strickland. “Utilizing these Recovery Act resources to build upon Ohio’s industry strengths will help our state’s businesses conserve energy while creating jobs.”

Proposals for the Targeting Industry Efficiency component of the program were accepted beginning Sept. 14. Projects submitted were selected through a competitive review process based on several criteria: project readiness and ability to be complete within 12 months, a matching investment of at least 50 percent, and direct economic impacts in Ohio to create and retain jobs, according to the state.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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