Ohio Company Wins Award

Kraft Fluid Systems won the Ohio ESOP Company of the Year award presented by the Ohio Chapter of the ESOP Association. Kraft is an extremely involved and active ESOP which sends its owners out to many ESOP events and training. Yolanda Tenny, chair of the Kraft ESOP Committee, explained Kraft's philosophy in accepting this award on behalf of her fellow employee-owners, "We are proud to have won this award and lucky in having Bob Kraft and his family as an example in how we act as a company as well as in our local community."

Ohio ESOP Assoc. is Honored

The National ESOP Association Year 2000 Outstanding ESOP Association Chapter award was won by the Ohio Chapter for its outstanding service to the Ohio ESOP community.

OEOC Technical Assistance Effort Goes National

Congress has appropriated $230,000 for an innovative job retention project developed by the Ohio Employee Ownership Center. The OEOC, which has been working to avert plant shutdowns and retain jobs in Ohio since its inception in 1987 has developed a new initiative geared to providing a specific and quick response to closures stemming from the crisis in the steel and aluminum industries. The OEOC will set up a national network of approximately five centers that will be providing support and technical assistance to employee and community buyout efforts as a means to retain jobs in these industries and help distressed communities survive. The U.S. Department of Labor will administer the grant. The funds will be available sometime after July 1, 2000. For more information or assistance concerning this program, please contact Steve Clem at 330-672-3028.

Rich Products Lake City Plant Averts Shutdown

Across the state line in Lake City, PA, Lake Shore Frozen Foods recently became a 100% ESOP Company. Pennsylvanian Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Sam McCullough told assembled employees at their grand reopening, "I'm really excited about what you have created to preserve good, family-sustaining jobs. You are an example for all Pennsylvanians."