GARRETTSVILLE State OKs $750,000 grant for company Catacel Corp. gets Third Frontier money from Ohio Controlling Board

By Michele C. Hladik
Record-Courier Capital Bureau

COLUMBUS - Members of the Ohio Controlling Board approved the $751,719 Third Frontier Action Grant for the Catacel Corporation of Garrettsville.

The grant was requested by the Ohio Department of Development to support Catacel’s “Low Cost, High Temperature Heat Exchanger and Reactor Platform for Fuel Cell Applications Project.”

According to the request, the Third Frontier Commission unanimously approved the request in March and recommended the project is funded at that amount for the project period until April 30, 2008.

“Programs like this are integral to furthering the vision of Ohio’s Third Frontier,” read the request. “This initiative is providing the tools necessary to increase high-tech, high-paying jobs and make Ohio a leader in new research and knowledge-based jobs that will strengthen the states economy.”

The project, part of the Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program, entails Catacel to work with heat exchange and reactor modules which may have potential use with any integrated fuel cell systems.

According to the request Catacel will also “evaluate two methods of sealing the assembly, produce prototypes for internal testing, conduct performance validation by potential customers, develop software to evaluate HE performance, and design and specify initial manufacturing equipment.”

“Successful conclusion of the project will result in products that are expected to significantly lower overall fuel cell system cost,” the request read.

According to the request, the project is under a “cost share program” which requires Catacel to provide matching funds that equal half the amount provided by the Third Frontier Action Fund. Catacel along with Patriot Engineering Co., Creative Processing, Inc., and EMTEC are expected to provide a total cost share of at least $376,561.00.