Hamilton Journal News July 23, 2004
County companies reap appropriations/7-24
By Chris Dumond
HAMILTON - Two southern Butler County businesses pulled in 82 percent of the state's nearly $720 million appropriation in the 2005 defense spending plan approved by the Senate Thursday night.
Fairfield-based O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Co. got the biggest slice at $587 million.
The spending plan will allow for increased production of armored Humvees for the U.S. military.
The Department of Defense stepped up orders for armored Humvees last year as soldiers in the Middle East were increasingly exposed to so-called Improvised Explosive Devices. According to the defense information Web site globalsecurity.org, the armored Humvees have shown much greater resistance to the homemade mine blasts.
In a recent earnings report by O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt parent company Armor Holdings, CEO Robert R. Schiller noted the company is producing 350 Up-Armored Humvees per month.
"We believe that we are in an excellent position to ramp production to higher levels in order to meet the ongoing, urgent need of the Department of Defense and our soldiers in the field," Schiller said.
Amanda Flaig, spokeswoman for Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, said the Department of Defense has not yet determined exactly what its production needs will be.
Intermec Technologies Corp. of West Chester Township will get $5.6 million under the plan. Intermec spokeswoman Kathie Anderson said the Department of Defense uses Intermec programs to keep track of its arsenal and depot inventories.
"Defense preparedness must be a priority in our war on terrorism," DeWine said. "As a member of the appropriations committee, I am proud to have secured funding on behalf of Ohio's military installations and projects. We must continue to provide our men and women in the armed forces with the strength and capability necessary in this tumultuous time."
Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said the funding will ensure that soldiers are ready, equipped and well-trained.
"Fundamental to that is making sure our troops have at their disposal the most cutting-edge resources available and these funds help guarantee that by investing heavily in the most advanced research and manufacturing that we do so well in Ohio," Voinovich said.
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