News

2009 news releases

OAQDA to Issue Bond to Assist Licking County Dry Cleaner, Create New Jobs

Funds also will reduce hazardous waste and generate utility savings

(COLUMBUS) As many as five new jobs will be created and environmental savings realized as a result of a $50,000 bond to be issued by the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) to assist Highlander Cleaning Centers, Inc., of Newark, Ohio. The funds were approved by OAQDA at its September meeting.

Highlander Cleaning Centers will use the funds to purchase new “hybrid” dry cleaning equipment that will enable it to cease using the solvent percyl ethylene, replacing it with the much more environmentally friendly DF-2000 Fluid. The new equipment will enable the company to eliminate 95 percent of the hazardous waste now produced. In addition, because the hybrid equipment does not need steam to operate, Highlander will cut its utility usage by two-thirds.

Jim Lucas, president of Highlander Cleaning Centers, said the company will have the new equipment operating within two months, which will coincide with its 32nd year of operation in November. He said the new employees will be needed to assist in operating the hybrid equipment and in delivering clothing to his customers. The equipment will also enable the company to increase its speed of operation and extend its cleaning services to suede and leather garments. Highlander operates its main dry cleaning plant in Newark, along with four pick-up stores in Newark and Granville.

“We are excited that our company is going to be able to hire several new employees, while greatly reducing harmful waste products and also saving on our utility bills. This is truly a new chapter for our business,” Lucas said.

Lucas previously worked for 20 years as an engineer for Rockwell International. Pursuing his dream of self-employment, Lucas and his wife, Linda, purchased Highlander Cleaning Centers in November 1977. The company has grown from two to 17 employees over the years, Lucas said.

The funds awarded to Highlander Cleaning Centers are available through the Clean Air Resource Center (CARC), a program of OAQDA that helps small businesses finance equipment that will control, reduce or eliminate air emissions caused by business operations.

In addition, CARC can finance projects that improve a company’s energy efficiency. Energy efficiency projects vary greatly depending on the type of business, but can include many types of equipment from new lighting systems to variable speed motors to computer-controlled heating and cooling systems.

“OAQDA is very pleased that our bonding capacity enables us to assist Ohio companies, large and small, as they seek to protect our environment while growing their businesses. In this economy, any announcement regarding new job creation is welcome news,” said Mark R. Shanahan, OAQDA Executive Director and the Governor’s Energy Advisor.

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The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) is a non-regulatory government agency created to help Ohio businesses comply with clean air regulations. Through its Ohio Coal Development Office, OAQDA also oversees the State of Ohio’s coal research, development and technology deployment efforts. Since its creation in 1970, the Authority has provided technical and financial help to hundreds of large and small Ohio businesses, awarding more than $7 billion to finance air quality projects. In addition, the OAQDA Executive Director was appointed the Governor’s Energy Advisor in January 2007. Subsequently, in 2008, OAQDA was named as administering authority for the $150 million Advanced Energy Job Stimulus Program. For more information about OAQDA and its services, please visit its web site, at www.ohioairquality.org.