Press Room >> 2010 Press Releases 

Governor Designates Youngstown the Ohio Hub
of Advanced Materials and Software Development

Youngstown, Ohio  – Governor Ted Strickland today announced the designation of an Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity in Youngstown to assist Ohio’s advanced materials and software development industries.

The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Hub of Advanced Materials Commercialization and Software Development aims to develop, manufacture, market and apply next-generation materials. The Hub will assist Youngstown’s already robust entrepreneurial environment and build upon the region’s emerging strengths in advanced materials commercialization.

“Ohio Hubs are an important part of our plan to create jobs in high-growth industries and sharpen Ohio’s competitive edge,” Strickland said.  “With the supportive environment of the Youngstown Business Incubator and Youngstown State University, the Mahoning Valley is a great place to build a company.”

The Hub will put emphasis on technology surrounding hard materials that are linked with the Youngstown area such as steel, titanium, magnesium, industrial ceramics and aluminum. A $250,000 state grant, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, will help support the hub.

“Once again, today’s announcement demonstrates Governor Strickland’s commitment to this region,” said U.S. Representative Tim Ryan. “Youngstown’s designation as the next Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity will showcase our existing assets, including Youngstown State University and the Youngstown Business Incubator. The Hub will build on the recent successes of the Tech Belt Initiative and will complement Akron’s BioInnovation Hub and Cleveland’s Health and Technology Corridor Hub, highlighting the unique synergies present in Northeastern Ohio. This Hub will be instrumental in developing additional advanced materials and manufacturing expertise for sustainable energy, industrial and military applications, which will lead to new technology development, talent attraction and increased economic opportunity for our local economy.”

The Ohio Hubs of Innovation and Opportunity, supported by the Ohio Department of Development, leverage a region’s resources and investments to attract clusters of connected businesses, encourage new investments and an influx of talented workers, and help create new opportunities to grow jobs and develop Ohio’s key industries.

“We created the Ohio Hubs program to recognize that Ohio’s cities have distinct strengths--and that we can build on those strengths with seed money for planning and development assistance to spur sustained job growth, promote entrepreneurship, and the commercialization of new ideas,” Lt. Governor Lee Fisher said.  “This designation will allow us to leverage the business success and the skills of people living and working in the Valley while creating new jobs and opportunity.”

To be designated an Ohio Hub, a region must identify core strengths and develop a strategic plan for urban revitalization. The designation consists of a commitment from both the state and the region to work collaboratively and target economic development efforts toward building upon those identified strengths.

“The Mahoning Valley is a recognized leader in advanced materials with strong roots in steel making,” said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “This announcement will go a long way in attracting future investment and spurring new research in the advanced materials sector, benefiting both the region and the state.”

“The designation of Youngstown as an Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity is yet another step in YSU’s transition in to an urban research university and Youngstown’s transformation into a nationally-recognized center for creative and affordable research and development business enterprises,” said Dr. Cynthia Anderson, President of Youngstown State University.

This is the sixth Ohio Hub designation, following the Akron Biomaterials Commercialization Hub and Cincinnati’s Consumer Marketing Hub of Innovation announcements in July, Toledo’s Northwest Ohio Solar Energy Innovation Hub and Cleveland Health and Technology Corridor Hub announcements in June, and the Ohio Aerospace Hub announcement in Dayton last September. The Ohio Hubs develop a unique, concentrated environment that spurs innovation, company growth, employment, capital investment, product sales and community development in designated areas.

“The HUB designation is an important validation by the State of Ohio that the Mahoning Valley has the talent and resources to support leading edge, advanced material technologies,” said Julie Smith, Chief Development Officer of the Youngstown Business Incubator. “The Incubator’s expertise in information technologies and entrepreneurial ventures are keys to accelerate these developments and we are excited to partner with YSU on this transformative opportunity for our community.”

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