FUND RAISING TOTAL NOW AT $34,850

April 27, 2001 - West Virginia-American Water Company is the latest company to invest in the future of Putnam County. The company dontated $2,500 for the benefit of the Development Authority's marketing efforts. "Companies like West Virginia-American Water are helping us tremendously," according to Gary Walton, Executive Director of the PCDA, "I just can't stress enough how important our private investors are, particularly this year," according to Walton. Not only is water an important infrastructure item necessary to grow and attract industry in Putnam County, but the private investment support is just as important. West Virginia-American Water Company (WVAWC) headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia has been providing quality water service within West Virginia for over 110 years. Currently, WVAWC provides residential, commercial, industrial, municipal and fire protection needs for over 150,000 customers in 14 counties of West Virginia as well as communities in Ohio and Virginia. WVAWC operates 16 water treatment facilities. WVAWC's Jim Hamilton also volunteers his time and expertise as a member of the board of PROTEC. For more information about West Virginia-American Water Company, visit their Internet web site at: http://www.wvawater.com.

The Putnam Regional Organization for Technical & Economic Development (PROTEC) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization. PROTEC works as a fund raising arm for the marketing and other efforts of the Development Authority. Donations made to PROTEC may be deductible as charitable donations under IRS regulations.

Here is a list of donators as we approach the end of April: Allied Warehousing, American Electric Power, Ameristeel, Baker Truck Equipment Company, Bank One, City National Bank, Concorp, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., Dunn Engineers, Inc., Environmental Design Group, Flexsys America LP, Four S Development, Fruth Pharmacy, G&G Builders, Inc., Garage Door Openers, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, HNTB Corporation, Maxim Crane Works, Parkline, Inc., Pray Construction Company, Presnell Associates, Inc., Putnam County Bank, R. O. Robertson, Jr., Steptoe & Johnson, Tasty Blend Foods, Teays Physical Therapy Center, Thrasher Engineering, The March-Westin Company, Thompson Real Estate Rents, and the Cecil I. Walker Machinery Company.