Big Money For Tech Development In Northeast Ohio

This week, we have more news about the federal government's efforts to both promote sustainable, energy-efficient technology, and to encourage manufacturing growth and job creation in Northeast Ohio. To further those goals, the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is investing more than $10 million dollars in a new program called “Manufacturing the New Energy Economy in Appalachia,” and $1.25 million dollars of that money has been directed toto MAGNET, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership. We talked about that with Northeast Ohio MAGNET CEO, Ethan Karp. We also talked to US Senator Sherrod Brown this week, about a major win for Akron; designation through the US Commerce Department as a Regional Technology and Innovation hub, because of its leadership in producing sustainable polymers—the "next generation" of rubber and plastics. As a result, Akron is in line to get between $20 and $70 million dollars aimed at spurring research, development, and economic development. But that is at least several months away, and exactly how much of that money Akron will get is still unknown. What is certain though, is that the University of Akron, and the Akron Chamber of Commerce have already gotten a $400 thousand dollar grant that U-A Vice President for Research and Business engagement, Dr. Susan Bausch, tells us will be used to ramp up ongoing sustainable polymer research. Listen now: