$6.6M in state loans approved for proton research center

MIAMI TWP., Montgomery County — Optivus Proton Therapy Inc. cleared the final hurdle Monday in securing $6.6 million in state loans to assist in building its proton beam therapy research and development headquarters.

The $16 million project — not to be confused with Optivus’ previously announced $170 million proton beam radiation treatment center — will employ 78 people, who are expected to receive an average hourly wage of $35. The research center is to be built at the southwest corner of the Austin Boulevard-Interstate 75 interchange.

The state Controlling Board approved the loans Monday. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority in December approved a $587,000 job creation tax credit for the project, which involves the manufacture and testing of beam accelerator equipment.

Optivus CEO Jon Slater hopes proton beam research begins in December. He couldn’t be reached Monday.

Optivus has potential collaboration agreements with Wright State University and Premier Health Partners on its proton treatment project.

Premier competitor Kettering Medical Center is working with a California partner to invest up to $80 million in its own proton therapy treatment center at either the Austin Boulevard interchange or across the street from its hospital on Southern Boulevard. Unlike Optivus, KMC has secured financing for its project, which it hopes to complete by 2013, KMC has said.

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