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Ohio Expands National Leadership Position in the Wind Industry

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The state ofOhio is expanding its national leadership role in the wind industry through significant investments recently made through the Ohio Third Frontier Program. The Third Frontier Program provides grants toOhio companies creating technological innovations to accelerate the development of an emerging advanced energy industry. According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment,Ohio is the premier location in the U.S. to develop a business in the advanced energy industry, and these funds will only accelerate innovation and promote economic growth throughout the state.

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Cleveland, Ohio-based Parker Hannifin was awarded $1 million for the commercialization of a hydraulic system developed by Parker for use in wind turbines. Parker's hydraulic wind turbine effort will improve overall wind-to-electricity energy generating efficiency while also reducing maintenance expenses.

"We believe thatOhio has a tremendous opportunity to grow its economy by building on the strengths of its existing businesses and to do so through clean, advanced and sustainable technologies like wind energy," said Dheeraj Choudhary, Business Unit Manager for Alternative Energy Systems at Parker Hannifin. "Parker is proud to work with theState of Ohio to accelerate the development and growth ofOhio's advanced energy initiatives."

Innovation inOhio is driven by the state's Third Frontier Program, a $1.6 billion initiative to help catalyze connections between companies and academia to support the business development process. This sharing of knowledge often results in unexpected solutions with commercial application.

"Once known for its abundance of blue collar workers,Ohio is now transforming its economy to meet the advanced energy needs of the 21st century. Combined with new programs to educate and train a new generation of green collar workers,Ohio's depth in advanced design, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing combine to create the perfect combination of skill sets and capabilities to make the state a global leader in this rapidly growing industry," said Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition.

Ohio's emerging wind energy boom is also fueled by the state's long history as a manufacturing powerhouse.Ohio is No. 2 inthe United States in potential for manufacturing wind turbines and components. Currently home to more than 60 companies in the wind turbine supply chain;Ohio has already become a leading supplier for the U.S. wind industry. Hundreds of large-scale industrial manufacturing operations stand poised to participate inOhio's wind industry growth.

"Business owners profit from the bottom-line benefits of better work/life balance for their employees," Burghard continued. "Ohio offers low-cost, low stress communities in a combination of micropolitan and metropolitan cities. This diversity provides executives and employees the resources and time to make any ambition achievable.Ohio truly is the state of perfect balance."

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition (OBDC) is a nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. The OBDC provides marketing strategy and implementation to supportOhio's economic development efforts. For more information on business development or business relocation, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com .

For more information about Parker Hannifin, please visit www.parker.com .

SOURCE Ohio Business Development Coalition

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Ohio Expands National Leadership Position in the Wind Industry