Illinois Governor announces $126,000 Innovative Product Grant for GO! Products

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL December 5, 2006 - Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $126,000 Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO’s) Innovative Product Grant  (IPG)  to GO! Products of Elmhurst, Illinois

GO! Products was one of five Illinois based manufacturing companies Governor Blagojevich sited as being on the verge of rapid growth in the $45 Billion Dollar Homeland Security Industry.

“It is vital for Illinois to be at the forefront of the homeland security industry and supporting the development of new and existing technologies that will create a safer, cleaner, healthier and more efficient world.  The investment in these five manufacturing companies makes it possible for Illinois companies to supply the nation with products that help protect our country, while putting even more people to work,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

“With this IPG Grant, we will create upto 16 new jobs over the next 24 months as we fully commercialize the GO! Chassi^® line for First Responders,” said Mark A. Dronen, President and CEO of GO! Products.  “The product lines ease of use, modular design, cost structure and ability to bring tactical equipment into theater attached to either municipal of private vehicles are their compelling selling points.”

The IPG will be used to further develop the following GO! Chassi applications;

GO! Chassi^® Command Post™          (Incident Command)
GO! Chassi^® Powerhouse™               (Mobile Power)
GO! Chassi^® Rescue™                       (Confined Space Rescue)
GO! Chassi^® CSI™                             (Field Crime Scene Investigation)
GO! Chassi^® Lighthouse™                 (Incident Lighting Towers)
GO! Chassi^® Inspector™                    (Video Based Search and Rescue)
GO! Chassi^® WildFire™                      (Controlled burns)

The DCEO’s Innovative Product Grant (IPG) Program was created to accelerate the commercialization, improvement, and production of goods and services with an application in homeland security and other sectors.  IPG funds are intended to help create jobs and increase economic activity in Illinois, while strengthening the state’s competitive position as a leader in science and technology innovation.

“Gov. Blagojevich’s IPG Program has already made an immediate and lasting contribution to the homeland security industry by investing more than $4 million in working capital in businesses that are accelerating the commercialization of new and innovative technologies and bringing new homeland security products to market.  This is leveraging nearly $12 million in additional public and private capital, which will create more than 440 new jobs over the next 24 months,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.  “No other state in the country is better equipped than Illinois to be a leader in the homeland security industry.  From manufacturing and biotechnology to aerospace and finance, we have an unmatched level of diversity in our state’s economy.”

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