Some great news arrived late last week with an award of $2.1M from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission for the creation of the Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials Analyses at Youngstown State University in collaboration with the Ohio Supercompter Center and Fireline TCON, Inc., a portfolio company of the Youngstown Business Incubator.

Fireline TCON will utilize the new center to extend its research activities toward developing new refractory materials for the processing of liquid aluminum as well as new applications such as light weight vehicle braking systems and conformal body armor for military forces.

The is the second new multi-million dollar Center of Excellence to be announced in the past 12 months where a YBI portfolio company is named as a primary collaborator.

Well, welcome to the halfway point of 2008.  That went quick, didn’t it?  What started out as a slow month, ended on a high note with lots of positive announcements throughout the region.  We’ve summarized a nice selection after the break.

June also saw one of the blogs we follow “going dark”, as they say.  Chris Varley’s Tech Futures blog, which grew out of a NorTech study around technology-based economic development, signed off this month with the following note:

The TechFutures site will remain up for some time to come, but this will be the last blog post in this forum.  As NorTech adapts to the changes around it, new priorities are emerging and new initiatives are being launched.  We invite you to revisit the stories and history of this project here on this site, but even more than that we encourage you to get and stay involved in the new projects NorTech and other economic development groups in the region pursue in the months and years to come.

Continued

Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) welcomes a special guest speaker to its Third Thursday at 3 (TH3) series on Monday, June 23^rd at 7:30 a.m. at Youngstown State University’s Moser Hall.  Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) will discuss NSF’s role in industry, economic development and education. 

Dr. Bement heads the only federal agency that funds research and education in all fields of science and engineering. He directs a budget of more than $6 billion; hundreds of programs that support roughly 200,000 scientists, engineers, educators, and students across the country; and the development of world-class facilities and infrastructure. Since the launch of the American Competitiveness Initiative in 2006, he has overseen numerous initiatives that strengthen the U.S. innovation base and economic position and intensify the training of the U.S. workforce to operate in a high-tech global economy. He has expanded NSF’s centers of excellence program to encompass dozens of science and engineering disciplines partnering with industries and educators. 

YBI is partnering with the Office of Congressman Tim Ryan (D-17) and Youngstown State University’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for this special TH3 presentation. Dr. Bement will also give remarks and view poster presentations on various research topics by YSU students in YSU’s Ward Beecher Hall following the TH3 speech. 

The program is free but reservations are required at 330-259-7644 or jmsmith@ybi.org. 

Third Thursdays at 3 is a networking and educational forum that brings together innovative and progressive people with a vision - to create and sustain an innovative and entrepreneurial environment in the Mahoning Valley.  TH3 events are for local companies to showcase new technologies, for technology organizations to share their resources, for entrepreneurs build relationships, for educators to highlight their initiatives. Sponsored by the Youngstown Business Incubator, the forum provides a place for innovative talk, robust debates and inquiring minds.

With nighttime lows that have dipped into the 30’s recently, it’s hard to believe we are making the turn into Summer, but here we are in June already.  The temperatures are quickly on the rise (if only the Indian’s bats were heating up as well), and the Summer Solstice is only a couple weeks away.

Lot’s of good economic development news hit in May.  Selfishly, we here at NEOinc are most proud of Mike LeHere’s award by the National Business Incubation Association as the top incubator innovator of 2008.  Mike is the CEO of the Akron Global Business Accelerator (AGBA) and the innovation was the Global Technology Commercialization Initiative in conjunction with the City of Akron.  Three links to separate articles are in the list below, but since we write this blog, we’re linking here too.  Follow this link to read our original article on Mike. 

There is a lot of positive change happening in the region, particularly around entrepreneurial activities and economic development.  NEOinc follows several regional blogs reporting on these topics.  Sometimes the posts shine a spotlight nationally (or internationally) on the region.  Every month we publish a short list of some of the stories we’ve noticed that embody the spirit of achievement, growth and change in our region.

Here is NEOinc’s May recap of the articles we feel speak to the growth and positive change that is happening quietly, every day, in our region.   Continued

We are thrilled to report that Syncro Medical Innovations, a portfolio company of the Youngstown Business Incubator, has been awarded a highly competitive $350,000 technology commercialization grant from Ohio’s Third Frontier program.

The funding will be used to help bring to market the company’s proprietary medical feeding tube technology which utilizes external magnets for tube guidance and placement.

Yep, a cutting edge medical device manufacturing company…

…in Youngstown, Ohio.

Jim Cossler
Chief Evangelist
Youngstown Business Incubator
330.884.6262
www.ybi.org

And we’re open for business!

With former Governor Bob Taft as our honored guest, the new $6 million Taft Technology Center was officially opened yesterday in Downtown Youngstown. Located adjacent to the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Center will house accelerated companies from the YBI program.

But, we discovered a problem. The Taft Center is already completely full.

So…shortly we will begin a $3 million renovation of the Semple Building, adjacent to the Taft Center, to house more of our accelerated companies.

And in 2010, we will begin renovations of the Wells Building on the other side of YBI.

And in 2012…..

Well, you get the picture. We’re not stopping until we are the most recognized software application cluster in the Midwest.

Heck, we’re not stopping even then.

Jim Cossler
Chief Evangelist
Youngstown Business Incubator
330.884.6262
www.ybi.org

CONTACT: Julie Michael Smith
Chief Development Officer, Youngstown Business Incubator
330-259-7644; jmsmith@ybi.org

May 14, 2008

FORMER GOVERNOR TAFT RETURNS TO YOUNGSTOWN
FOR GRAND OPENING OF TECH CENTER

Former Governor Bob Taft will join elected officials, the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corporation (YCACIC), Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) and Turning Technologies for the grand opening of the facility that bears his name-the Taft Technology Center-at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 19.

The celebration, to take place in front of the center, at 255 West Federal Street in Downtown Youngstown, will include comments from Taft, as well as U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan; Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams; G. Richard Pavlock, chairman of the YCACIC Board of Directors; Garry Mrozek, chairman of the YBI Board of Directors; and Michael Broderick, CEO of Turning Technologies, the first tenant of the new facility. The event will conclude with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Pavlock stated that the construction of the Taft Technology Center is part of a multi-phase, joint effort by the YCACIC and YBI to create a technology campus downtown and foster an environment for technology companies to share ideas and resources with one another, as well as institutions such as Youngtown State University.

In addition, Mrozek said, “In a great partnership with the YCACIC, the development of Taft Technology Center expands YBI’s presence, allowing it to retain successful companies while supporting the revitalization of the downtown. YBI looks forward to continuing this revitalization partnership and expanding this technology environment.” 

The Taft Technology Center boasts 30,000 square feet. While the YCACIC developed the project with contractor Mike Coates Construction Co., ownership will soon be turned over to the YBI.

 The center cost approximately $5.8 million to build; $3.5 million was targeted for this project from Taft, whose administration championed support for technology-based business development and entrepreneurship. 

Turning Technologies moved into the facility earlier this month, establishing its global headquarters where approximately 130 people are currently employed.

Contact: Julie Michael Smith
Youngstown Business Incubator
330-259-7644 office
330-727-6292 mobile

For Immediate Release: May 9, 2008

Youngstown Business Incubator Hosts Innovation Series

On May 15^th, Youngstown Business Incubator will welcome Dick Wilk, President, Suhas Patil, Vice President of Engineering and Market Development and Domenico Sciaretta, Product Manager, Refractory Specialties, Inc, who will discuss RSI’s evolutionary and extraordinary transition from a basic manufacturer to a leading edge visionary. RSI has developed innovative applications of industrial insulation components in automotive, appliance, HVAC, metals, fuel cell, solar energy and petrochemicals industries as well as industrial process furnaces, solid fuel appliances and high temperature gaskets.  It recently was awarded a $400,000 Third Frontier Grant from the Ohio Department of Development for its High Purity, Robust Kiln Furniture for Low Cost SOFC Manufacturing project. 

They will also discuss the opportunities for international trade for small and mid-size businesses.  Wilk states, “You must be willing to take calculated risk and you must dream big.  Be willing to tackle nearly any problem or opportunity that comes your way.  Our entire organization believes good things happen when you’re in front of the customer.” Wilk led the management acquisition of this former division of Ferro Corporation in 1992 and will share his insights on business succession opportunities. 

Third Thursdays at 3 pm is a networking and educational forum that brings together innovative and progressive people with a vision - to create and sustain an innovative and entrepreneurial environment in the Mahoning Valley.  TH3 events are for local companies to showcase new technologies, for technology organizations to share their resources, for entrepreneurs build relationships, for educators to highlight their initiatives. The forum provides a place for innovative talk, robust debates and inquiring minds. 

All programs are held at Youngstown Business Incubator, 241 W. Federal Street, Youngstown.  The programs are free but reservations are required at 330-259-7644 or jmsmith@ybi.org as space is limited.

Much of NEOinc’s management is in San Antonio this week at the National Business Incubation Association’s Spring conference.  In our absence, we leave you with April’s recap of positive regional change, and look forward to publishing next week. 

There is a lot of positive change happening in the region, particularly around entrepreneurial activities and economic development.  NEOinc follows several regional blogs reporting on these topics.  Sometimes the posts shine a spotlight nationally (or internationally) on the region.  Every month we publish a short list of some of the stories we’ve noticed that embody the spirit of achievement, growth and change in our region.

Here is NEOinc’s April recap of the articles we feel speak to the growth and positive change that is happening quietly, every day, in our region.   Continued

Contact: Mike Ferranti
eGolfShow LLC
330-519-3934

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2008

Local Firms Develop High Tech Golf Website for PGA Professionals

World’s first online searchable golf products catalog 

Perkins Communications, Inc., and eGolfShow LLC today announced the launch of eGolfShow.com, an interactive web site for use by PGA golf professionals.  The two Northeast Ohio firms partnered to create this business-to-business site for premier golf equipment manufacturers to market and sale their products to PGA Professionals and other golf industry retailers. 

eGolfShow.com features a searchable database offering “one-stop shopping” to PGA professionals and retailers. “This is the world’s first online searchable catalog allowing golf professionals to search for their business needs and to see side-by-side comparisons of manufacturers’ product lines,” said Mike Ferranti, PGA Professional and President of eGolfShow LLC.  Ferranti continues, “This revolutionizes the golfing business by giving PGA professionals a direct link to a vast array of the products they need at www.eGolfshow.com.” 

The web site was developed by Perkins Communications, a Youngstown Business Incubator portfolio company, and part owner of the eGolfShow.com web site.  “We are extremely excited about the potential of the eGolfShow.com web site,” said Joe Perkins, president of Perkins Communications.  “Before we even finished writing the software, golf manufacturers from around the world began signing up for the site and uploading their product listings to our database.  Apparently there is pent-up demand for just such a service and we anticipate a lot of PGA professionals will visit the site on a regular basis.” 

eGolfShow.com allows PGA professionals to do “Google” type searches for golf-related items such as golf clubs, bags, carts and even logo imprinted golf balls.  The search results display a picture and description of the item along with a listing of the suppliers. The purchaser can then directly contact the manufacturer of their choice to place an order or get further information, all from the eGolfShow.com web site.

 The partnership seeks to do for golf what Amazon.com did for books and to bring the world of professional golfing to Northeast Ohio.  “I am personally watching the server logs to see if Tiger Woods signs up for a web account”, said Perkins.  “To me, that will indicate more than anything that our region has the power to reach out to the whole world in a powerful way.”