WARSAW, Ind. (April 8, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives from children's orthopedics developer OrthoPediatrics today to announce the company's plans to grow its development, manufacturing and distribution center here, creating 100 new jobs.

The two-year old developer of orthopedic implants for children and small stature patients will invest more than $4.5 million to more than double its development and manufacturing operations in the North Central Indiana town known as the Orthopedics Capital of the World.

"Even in a weak national economy, new growth is continuing in Indiana. Our state's orthopedics industry, the best in the world, is a good example of a recession-resistant business cluster that wins globally even in times of economic slowdown," said Daniels.

Founded in 2006 to address the unmet needs for anatomically appropriate implantable devices for children, OrthoPediatrics employs 26 professionals in Warsaw and plans to begin hiring engineers, managers, marketers, IT specialists and warehouse associates later this year.

"We know that over $500 million of orthopedics products go into children here in the United States, many of which is the wrong product and originally designed for adults," said Nick Deeter, OrthoPediatrics' chief executive officer, president and founder. "Research indicates that the total global market is in the billions. Many of the innovations we have in development will change the way children with orthopedic conditions are treated, with the goal of helping children get back to the business of being kids.

"The rich talent and manufacturing environment of Warsaw, and the generous support of the governor and his team at the IEDC greatly helps us achieve our mission," he said.

Under the premise that children are not just small adults, Deeter and his team are developing a product line of devices aimed at speeding and improving the recovery from childhood ailments ranging from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis to scoliosis. Their offerings are aimed at stemming the cycle of surgeons using altered adult orthopedic products or canine devices to treat pediatric patients, a use that Deeter said overlooks the fundamental physiological elements that differentiate pediatric anatomy from that of an adult.

"OrthoPediatrics continued commitment to downtown brings new investment and new well-paying jobs to our city," said Warsaw Mayor Ernest Wiggins. "OrthoPediatrics is an asset not only to the orthopedics industry but to the community as a whole."

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered OrthoPediatrics up to $1.7 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. The city will consider property tax abatement.

Known as the "Orthopedics Capital of the World," Warsaw is home to the headquarters of three of the world's five largest makers of artificial joints and related surgical tools. Orthopedics is an $8 billion industry in Indiana.

The announcement of Orthopediatrics' expansion comes only hours after Daniels joined executives from national sleep study developer MD Sleep in Carmel to announce the company's plans to expand their corporate headquarters and create 160 new jobs.

About Orthopediatrics
OrthoPediatrics Corporation was formally established in 2006 when Mr. Deeter formed a business team of orthopedic experts in engineering, marketing and manufacturing from Warsaw, Indiana - "The Orthopedic Capital of the World". In order to ensure the clinical success of the devices, Mr. Deeter requested the help of many elite orthopedic surgeons from around the country. Together, the business team and surgeon experts are inventing and designing superior orthopedic implants for children. Mr. Deeter's extensive background in orthopedics and technology transfer, coupled with his company start-up skills and global surgeon contacts brings the OrthoPediatrics concept to life as "The smallest Company in Orthopedics™". For more information about OrthoPediatrics, visit www.orthopediatrics.com.

About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. Since Daniels created the IEDC, the state has posted three consecutive years of record-breaking job creation. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.