Behlen Manufacturing's investment in a Chinese plant is paying off for the Columbus-based company, despite what it cost the company chairman. The company has snagged a contract to produce a building for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Two years ago, the newly completed Behlen plant was held out as a symbol of outsourcing to China at the expense of U.S. jobs.

Behlen chairman Tony Raimondo wanted no political headaches, so he dropped out of consideration by the Bush administration to be an assistant secretary of commerce.

The company said then and now that business with China has meant dozens more jobs to its Columbus operation.