By 2029, the Youngstown Innovation Hub is expected to create 450 jobs in the Mahoning Valley.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the creation of Ohio’s fourth innovation hub in Youngstown. This new collaboration will strengthen Youngstown’s position as an additive manufacturing (AM) research, technology, and workforce development provider.
Funded with $26M from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program and $36M in local, federal, and private investment, the new Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense will support economic development in the region and state, leveraging the area’s experience in additive manufacturing and research.
Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, creates three-dimensional objects one layer at a time. This technology has improved military equipment production by enabling the rapid creation of complex and customized parts, reducing dependence on foreign manufacturing.
Youngstown, historically known for its manufacturing industry, has been expanding its role in additive technology.
Additional funding
Along with state, local, federal, and private investments, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will provide $1.2M to the Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. The funding will support facility design, engineering, and initial renovations. The AMLER program awards grants for economic development projects in areas impacted by former coal mining operations.
In February 2023, America Makes—the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute—collaborated with the City of Youngstown, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, state legislators, and business leaders to apply for innovation hub funding from Gov. DeWine’s budget plan. With established partnerships and experience in additive manufacturing research, technology, and workforce development, the coalition supported Youngstown’s application. Establishing a hub in the city would contribute to regional and state economic development while advancing additive manufacturing in the area.
America Makes is a public-private partnership focused on advancing additive manufacturing technology, education, and industry development.
The Youngstown Innovation Hub will strengthen existing and emerging supply chain connections in the Mahoning Valley’s aerospace and defense sectors.
Expanding workforce and industry growth in the Mahoning Valley
By 2029, the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense is expected to add about 450 jobs in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Ashtabula counties, generating an estimated $161.6M in state revenue. The initiative will also support workforce development by providing 40 internships and 185 new STEM credential certificates.
The Hub will expand training programs to help both youth and adults develop new skills in additive manufacturing. Additionally, it will offer resources for small businesses working on additive manufacturing applications.
Innovation hub partners, stakeholders, and contributors
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, State Senator Al Cutrona, State Representatives Lauren McNally, Tex Fischer, Monica Robb Blasdel, Nick Santucci, and David Thomas, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, The City of Youngstown, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber and its Foundation, the Youngstown State University and the YSU Foundation, the Mahoning County Commissioners, the Western Reserve Port Authority, the Lake to River Economic Development, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the Youngstown Foundation, Vince and Phyllis Bacon, Humtown Products, Center Street Technologies, Ursa Major, JuggerBot 3D, Additive Engineering Solutions, BDI, XJET, TMI Inc., the Brilex Companies, Compco Industries, Hexagon, EOS, Stratasys, Team NEO, Nottingham Spirk, the Ohio Aerospace Institute, and the Association for Manufacturing Technology.
Ohio Innovation Hubs Program
The DeWine-Husted Administration, in collaboration with the Ohio General Assembly, established the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program last year to encourage investment beyond Ohio’s major metro areas. Similar to the Innovation Districts in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, Innovation Hubs connect academic and research institutions, workforce and economic development organizations, and private companies to support industry collaboration.
The program has awarded about $125M to date. The first Innovation Hub, announced in July, allocated $31.3M to the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub in Perrysburg. In August, Dayton received $35M for the onMain Innovation Hub, followed by the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, which received $31.25M in September.
For more information on the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program, visit development.ohio.gov.
