Gov. Ed Rendell handed out $5.48 million in checks yesterday, to a local brewery, a pillow manufacturer, a firm on the cutting edge of wireless power transfer and another involved in air pollution reduction, to aid expansion efforts or help keep business going.

Among those receiving state assistance will be the new owners of Iron City Brewing Co., who took control of the troubled brewer last September in a bid to preserve the brand and save jobs.

The state will kick in $750,000 to help the group of investors led by Connecticut businessman John N. Milne modernize the plant and continue to produce the venerable Iron City beer and two affiliated brands, IC Light and Augustiner.

"Without this support, we were not coming here," said Tim Hickman, president and chief executive officer of Iron City.

The state aid will take the form of a $500,000 loan, a $200,000 grant and $50,000 in job training funds. It is expected to leverage more than $3 million in investment. Mr. Rendell said the money not only will help in "preserving a Pittsburgh tradition," but save 100 jobs.

Mr. Hickman said the money would be used in part to buy a new keg system and a new gas boiler.

"We're proud to be stewards of the icon," he said.

During a news conference yesterday at the State Office Building, Downtown, Mr. Rendell said the $5.48 million in state aid for four local projects would leverage $9.1 million in private investment.

Others receiving assistance are:

• Powercast Inc., a pioneer in wireless power transfer that will receive $1.38 million in state loans, job training funds and a grant to expand its operations at the RIDC Park off Route 28 in Harmar.

The money is part of a $4 million investment by the company to develop and market wireless power transfer technology. With the expansion, Powercast expects to add at least 118 jobs to its existing seven within three years.

"This is a completely new technology and industry," founder and Chief Executive Officer John Shearer said. "This is the beginning of the wireless power industry."

• American Textile Co. will receive $400,000 in tax credits, job training funds, and a grant to help expand its headquarters and distribution center in Duquesne.

The expansion is expected to create at least 100 jobs in the next three years. American Textile, which manufactures mattress covers, pillow covers and bed pillows, is planning to build a 35,000-square-foot storage facility on a five-acre site adjacent to its headquarters. The expansion is expected to cost $1.6 million.

• Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control Inc., which designs and supplies air pollution control equipment, systems and services, will get $2.95 million in tax credits, job training money, and a grant to help with a $5 million expansion that will more than triple the company's operations.

The company, a division of Siemens Power Generation Group, has pledged to create at least 550 jobs through the expansion.