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By Ben Sutherly, Staff Writer Updated 9:52 AM Thursday, August 13, 2009

Five local companies ranked among the 600 fastest-growing U.S. private businesses in 2008, according to a list released by Inc. magazine Wednesday, Aug. 12.

It was the region’s strongest showing in the three years since Inc. expanded its list to recognize the 5,000 fastest-growing firms nationwide. Last year, five local companies were in the top 1,000; four were in the top 1,000 in 2007.

The companies are:

Instant Tax Service of Dayton, ranked 93rd, with 2008 revenues of $27.2 million compared to $1.5 million in 2005. Founded in 2000, the financial services company offers tax preparation, electronic filing, and refund anticipation loans in nearly 2,000 locations in 39 states, according to Inc. It has 73 employees.
Raven Rock Workwear of Dayton, ranked 369th, with 2008 revenues of $6.8 million compared to $865,000 in 2005. Raven Rock sells high performance clothing and footwear to painters, carpenters, and construction, industrial, and maintenance workers at 20 locations and through RavenRock.com, according to Inc. Founded in 2002, it has 119 employees.
One Call Now of Troy, ranked 503rd, with 2008 revenues of $4.6 million compared to $726,145 in 2005. Founded in 2002, the telecommunications company has 37 employees.
JatroDiesel of Miamisburg, ranked 550th, with 2008 revenues of $4.8 million compared to $819,413 in 2005. Founded in 2004, the biodiesel company has eight employees.
Hightowers Petroleum of Middletown, ranked 579th, with 2008 revenues of $111.2 million compared to $19.7 million in 2005. Founded in 1985, Hightowers Petroleum supplies and transports fuel and other petroleum products nationwide. It has 17 employees.

Inc., which caters to entrepreneurs, said the largest overall gains this year were in businesses focused on health care and/or on catering to government.

Torrid growth hasn’t meant immunity to the recession for all of the fast-growing local start-ups.

JatroDiesel, the area’s sole biodiesel producer, said demand for its biodiesel manufacturing technology and the nonpetroleum-based diesel fuel itself has sputtered. Its $4.8 million in revenue for 2008 compares to $8 million in 2007.

Raj Mosali, CEO, said sales may drop a bit further this year, despite plans to begin supplying Dayton Power & Light with at least 2 million gallons of biodiesel annually.

Others said they’re unscathed by the economic freefall.

“We announced last October we were not going to participate in the recession,” said Leib Lurie of One Call Now, which has expanded to 45 employees.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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