Screen Machine Industries Inc. has been recognized by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher with the 2007 Governor’s Excellence Award in housing and community development.

The award was presented July 25 during the annual meeting of the Ohio Conference of Community Development Annual Meeting luncheon held at the Concourse Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.

The award is presented to companies that demonstrate outstanding efforts in the area of housing and community development efforts. Winners were selected this year by the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.

Screen Machine Industries Inc. and Licking County formed a partnership in 2004 when the county was awarded an Ohio Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Development Program Grant to assist Screen Machine Industries Inc. in expanding its Ohio operations.

Screen Machine Industries Inc. created many new jobs and invested several million dollars in the construction of the 90,000 sq. ft. (8,300 sq m) addition to its existing Etna, Ohio, facilities.

The CDBG funds were used to extend waterlines under Interstate 70, permitting the company to meet local fire code requirements. This marks the first of several expansions scheduled for the Etna, Ohio, location. As Screen Machine Industries Inc. expands to the western and southern regions of the United States and world-wide, the company will add additional square footage and job creation accordingly.

For more information, call 800/837-3344 or visit www.screenmachine.com.