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YOUNGSTOWN -- A coalition of the city and business development organizations has formed to try to capture some of the $150 million Gov. Mike DeWine put in his two-year budget plan to create innovation hubs around the state.
The center would be anchored downtown at America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Formed in 2012, America Makes is the leading public-private partnership in the U.S. for additive manufacturing technology and learning.
"(Youngstown) in partnership with many organizations already excelling in research and technology to advance workforce development right in our downtown, is ready to compete for these funds and play its part in propelling Ohio's economy," Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said. "Hopefully, our work here in Youngstown is strong enough to consider us for this type of investment."
That work includes what is being done at America Makes and other organizations, including the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, Youngstown Business Incubator and by private-sector companies around additive manufacturing research, technology and workforce development.
DeWine provided lawmakers the $203 billion spending plan last week.
"We already have a good partnership with the state and a track record of success for developing the additive manufacturing workforce," John Wilczynski, America Makes executive director, said. "Additive is revolutionizing how we make parts for the auto industry, medical products and the vast defense industry."
If the funding for hubs -- meant to connect businesses with higher ed institutions to develop STEM education and research and technology -- survives scrutiny in the General Assembly, it's expected the funding process would be competitive.
Guy Coviello, president / CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, said he thinks a request by the coalition would compete well given that America Makes has been expanding research and technology in additive manufacturing for more than a decade.
"Not only does this make good economic development sense, but by investing in our urban core, we can continue to make progress closing glaring disparities in educational attainment, income and health outcomes," Coviello said.
He and others -- Youngstown Business Incubator's chief executive Barb Ewing, state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, and Mark Lamoncha, president / CEO of Humtown Products, a Mahoning Valley company on the leading edge of 3D sand printed cores and molds for the foundry industry -- argue Youngstown should be a landing spot for a hub.
The coalition points out, in part, the Ohio Chamber Research Foundation in Columbus has recommended the state create an innovation center in Youngstown connected to America Makes, which already manages a $400 million research and development portfolio.
"We are one of the leaders in the world in starting and growing companies in additive manufacturing," Ewing said. "We are already attracting companies here from other states and other nations. An innovation hub would certainly propel the entire state."