Fuel cell company to create 360 jobs

Ultracell, a California fuel cell company, will build a new manufacturing facility in the Dayton area and bring 360 jobs to the area during the next four years.

The company is looking at property near the Dayton International Airport, said UltraCell Chief Executive Officer James Kaschmitter during a news conference in Dayton Wednesday.

The project, totaled at a $74 million investment, would be the world's first high volume fuel cell roduction line, Kaschmitter said. Ultracell, founded in 2002, develops and manufacturers micro fuel cell systems for portable devices, such as laptop computers. The company now has 55 workers worldwide. Earlier this year the Air Force Reseach Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base bought five fuel cell systems from UltraCell, Kaschmitter said.

Gov. Bob Taft met with UltraCell officials during a visit to California earlier this month. Dayton Development Coalition brought the potential project to the state's attention, Taft said. J.P. Nauseff, head of the coalition.

The city, county and state plan to support the project with incentives, officials said. The state is working on a package of $15 million in training grants, roadwork development funds and a job creation tax credit, said Merle Madrid, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Development.

UltraCell has also applied for an $8 million Ohio Research and Commericalization Grant, Madrid said.

The state has dedicated $103 milllion for fuel cell technology.

"We have an opportunity to make Ohio a premier location for fuel cell advancement," Madrid said.