The John D. Finnegan Foundation and Ward Beecher Foundation recently made financial contributions to the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI).  Investing $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, the funds will be used for capital improvements to YBI’s incubating facility on W. Federal Street. In the past year, YBI has approved six new portfolio companies for occupancy and the funds will be used to provide professional office space for these growing ventures as well as future applicants.

“YBI is appreciative of the commitment by the John D. Finnegan Foundation and Ward Beecher Foundation to entrepreneurship and technology development. The mission of YBI is to assist technology-based entrepreneurs establish and accelerate their scalable, proprietary information technology applications,” states Julie Michael Smith, chief development officer of YBI.  “YBI provides entrepreneurial counseling and facilities in a professional atmosphere that allows companies to grow and prosper.”

J. David Sabine, Sr. Vice President and Sr. Trust Officer of Huntington Bank which manages both foundations, states “The foundation boards are very pleased to support this highly successful and visible leader in economic development in the Mahoning Valley.”