Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced the creation of Ohio’s fourth Innovation Hub in Youngstown, OH. This new collaboration will further strengthen Youngstown’s position as a global leader in additive manufacturing (AM) research, technology, and workforce development.
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 bolster economic development locally and statewide, capitalizing on the region’s long-standing additive manufacturing technology and research.
Additive manufacturing, known more commonly as 3D printing, is the process of creating three-dimensional objects one layer at a time. This technology has revolutionized the production of military equipment through the rapid creation of complex and customized parts, which limits the overreliance on foreign manufacturing.
“Building on the region’s deep manufacturing roots, Youngstown has spent the last decade establishing itself as a leader in the research, development, and commercialization of additive technology,” said Governor DeWine. “With support from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program, partners will now have added capacity to drive critical advancements in the defense and aerospace industries by transforming the way military equipment is made and strengthening our country’s national defense supply chains.”
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.
Additional Funding
In addition to state, local, federal, and private investments, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will contribute $1.2M to the Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program. This funding will support the design and engineering of the new facility, as well as initial renovations. The AMLER program provides grants for economic development projects that benefit regions affected by decades of coal mining.
In February 2023, America Makes — the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, joined forces with the City of Youngstown, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, state legislators, and business leaders to form a coalition vying for innovation hub funding from Gov. DeWine’s budget plan. Backed by strong partnerships and a proven track record in additive manufacturing research, technology, and workforce development, the coalition positioned Youngstown as an ideal site. Establishing a hub in the city would reinforce its role as a leader in additive manufacturing, driving economic growth and innovation across the region and state.