Youngstown Awarded 4th Innovation Hub
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik recently announced a new Innovation Hub in Youngstown to advance additive manufacturing technology for the national defense industry.
The Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense will bring together government, academia, and private sector industry partners to transform the region into the global epicenter for additive manufacturing.
Funded with $26M from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program and $36M in local, federal, and private investment, the Hub is expected to have an economic impact of $160M and create 450 new jobs by 2029. Partners will also work to develop the local workforce in the form of 40 interns and 185 new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math credential certificates. The Hub will support both early-stage companies and existing manufacturers looking to commercialize new additive applications.
America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, will lead the program. Partners include the Youngstown Business Incubator, Youngstown State University, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the city of Youngstown.
What It Means to Ohio
Much like the State of Ohio, Youngstown is well known for its strong roots in traditional manufacturing. Building on its reputation as a “steel town,” Youngstown has been reinventing itself as the nation’s premier hub for additive technology.
Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the production of military equipment through the rapid creation of complex and customized parts, which limits the overreliance on foreign manufacturing.
The technologies commercialized for aerospace and defense could impact the supply chain across industries, including energy, medical devices, construction, and semiconductors.
The DeWine Administration developed the $125 million Innovation Hubs Program to spur investment outside Ohio's major metro areas. The new Innovation Hub in Youngstown is the fourth Innovation Hub in the state, preceded by last year’s creation of the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub near Toledo, the onMain Innovation Hub in Dayton, and the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub. Like the Innovation Districts located in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, Innovation Hubs combine the talents of leading academic and research institutions, workforce and economic development partners, and private companies to gain a competitive advantage through collaboration.
What They’re Saying
“Partners in this region have been laying the foundation for the Youngstown Innovation Hub for years, and it’s incredibly moving to see their hard work pay off. Today’s announcement is a victory for this community, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
– Lt. Governor Jim Tressel
“The Ohio Innovation Hubs Program is a direct investment in Ohio’s people and communities. We’re ensuring that the next breakthroughs in additive manufacturing are proudly ‘Made in Ohio.’”
– Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik
“Together with our regional ecosystem partners, we have elevated Youngstown as the epicenter for market-ready additive manufacturing technologies. This initiative strengthens that foundation, aligning our capabilities with the defense and aerospace industries and empowering small-to-medium manufacturers to leverage advanced technologies for new opportunities in these critical sectors.”
– John Wilczynski, Executive Director of America Makes
“The Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense establishes Youngstown nationally, if not globally, as ground zero for the technology that will revolutionize manufacturing.”
– Guy Coviello, President & CEO, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber
