Exhibit 99.1

1511 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 900
Tampa, Florida 33607
(813) 830-7700
www.ablest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	SYMBOL:	AIH
Thursday, August 10, 2006	TRADED:	AMEX

ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

     TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 10 — Ablest Inc. today reported that revenue for the fiscal second quarter ended July 2, 2006 increased 4.9 percent to $34.3 million as compared to revenue of $32.8 million in the 2005 second quarter. Net income decreased to $285,000 or $0.10 per diluted share compared to $574,000 or $0.20 per diluted share for the similar period last year. Net income in the fiscal second quarter was negatively impacted because of higher than planned increase in workers’ compensation expense accruals of approximately $254,000.

     Revenues for the first 27 weeks of fiscal 2006 increased 10.4 percent to $70.2 million from $63.6 million in the corresponding 26-week period of the prior year. For the six months ended July 2, 2006, net income was $633,000 or $0.21 per diluted share compared to the first half of 2005 when the company reported net income of $838,000 equal to $0.29 cents per diluted share.

     Kurt R. Moore, president and chief executive officer, said, “The company experienced an increase in claims costs and incidence rates in 2006 which required an increase in our workers’ compensation expense estimates. Senior management is addressing this matter to reduce the growth rate of the expense.”

About Ablest

     Ablest is a leader in workforce services; creating and delivering local solutions that enable companies to compete and win in an ever-changing business world. Services are provided through its Staffing Services and Professional Services Divisions. Staffing Services offers customers a range of employment services in the office and light industrial sectors including employee assessment and selection, training, managed services and vendor-on-premise (VOP) programs. Professional Services offers employment and consulting services in the Information Technology and Finance and Accounting sectors. Ablest’s Services focus on improving customer performance in the areas of quality, efficiency and cost-reduction within their workforce. Ablest supplies more than 37,000 field employees and consultants to approximately 2,000 businesses annually through 58 locations in the Eastern and Southwestern United States.

     Statements made in this news release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers should carefully review and consider disclosures, including periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties of the factors which affect the company’s business.

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PAGE 2 / ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Statements of Income
(amounts in thousands except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)

	For the Thirteen Week				For the Twenty Seven Week		For the Twenty Six Week
	Periods Ended				Period Ended		Period Ended
	July 2, 2006		June 26, 2005		July 2, 2006		June 26, 2005
Net service revenues	$	34,340	$	32,751	$	70,204	$	63,586
Cost of services		28,398		27,009		58,151		52,867
Gross profit		5,942		5,742		12,053		10,719
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,466		4,815		11,017		9,364
Operating income		476		927		1,036		1,355
Other:
Interest income, net		10		—		9		—
Miscellaneous income (expense), net		19		—		21		(3	)
Other income (expense)		29		—		30		(3	)
Income before income taxes		505		927		1,066		1,352
Income tax expense		220		353		433		514
Net income	$	285	$	574	$	633	$	838
Basic net income per common share	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.22	$	0.29
Diluted net income per common share	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.21	$	0.29
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing net income per common share
Basic		2,933,268		2,863,509		2,915,761		2,859,043
Diluted		2,971,642		2,940,368		2,952,721		2,933,530

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PAGE 3 / ABLEST INC. REPORTS INCREASED REVENUE FOR SECOND QUARTER

ABLEST INC.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(amounts in thousands except share data)
(Unaudited)

	July 2, 2006			December 25, 2005
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,698		$	1,931
Accounts receivable, net		16,355			18,760
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		704			469
Current deferred tax asset		1,246			1,246
Total current assets		22,003			22,406
Property and equipment, net		2,329			1,732
Deferred tax asset		681			863
Goodwill		1,283			1,283
Other assets		245			171
Total assets	$	26,541		$	26,455
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	$	739		$	841
Accrued insurance		2,235			2,536
Accrued wages		2,500			2,738
Other current liabilities		469			514
Total current liabilities		5,943			6,629
Other liabilities		198			432
Total liabilities		6,141			7,061
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock of $.05 par value; 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding at July 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005		—			—
Common stock of $.05 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized, 3,387,118 and 3,334,344 shares issued and outstanding including shares held in treasury at July 2,, 2006 and December 25, 2005, respectively		169			167
Additional paid-in capital		5,636			5,265
Retained earnings		16,705			16,072
Treasury stock at cost; 457,729 shares held at July 2, 2006 and December 25, 2005		(2,110	)		(2,110	)
Total stockholders’ equity		20,400			19,394
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	26,541		$	26,455

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SOURCE:	Ablest Inc.
CONTACT:	John Horan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	813/830-7700 or jhoran@ablest.com/