OBERLIN — A $50,000 grant and a tax credit will support expansion of an Oberlin-based firm that plans to add 100 new jobs and retain 25 existing jobs related to a green energy project. The Rapid Outreach Grant will be used by Specialty Services Inc. to acquire new machinery and equip­ment for its site at 132 Artino St., where the firm looks to add 100 new jobs with hourly wages averaging $15, according to a description of the proj­ect provided Monday by the Ohio Department of Development.

Another 25 full-time jobs already at the facility will be retained, according to the information, which said the company will invest at least $2 million — including $1,725,000 for equip­ment and $300,000 for building improvements — to expand facilities to house manufacturing operations for wind turbines.

The 100 new jobs will also be cre­ated with the help of a 45 percent, seven-year tax credit approved in Feb­ruary by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority, a spokeswoman said. Terms of the tax credit calls for Specialty Services to commit to hiring at least 10 percent disadvantaged and minority employ­ees.

A division of General Plug and Manufacturing in Grafton, Specialty Services is a privately owned machine shop that specializes in thread-turn­ing, machining and custom assembly of iron castings. Over the past three years, the company has designed and developed wind turbines for small commercial and residential applica­tions.

Calls for comment from Specialty Services were referred to General Plug in Grafton. Officials of General Plug did not return calls Tuesday. General Plug produces pipe plugs, reducer bushings and special screw machine parts supplied to manufacturers and distributors in the automotive, pipe/valve/fitting, electrical and fastener industries, according to a company website.

The $1.7 million allocated by Specialty Services for machinery and equipment will purchase items ranging from production and vertical mills, lasers and engine lathes to production saw, combination machining center and related equipment.

The generators being developed by Specialty Services, measuring less than 5 feet by 8 feet, are able to collect wind from any direction and can be mounted on rooftops. Several prototypes are in production and under evaluation by a third party as part of a competition between the states of Ohio, Michigan and New York.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

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