Youngstown tech center named for Taft

YOUNGSTOWN — With the end of his term as governor just a few weeks away, Bob Taft visited downtown Youngstown today for a ceremony to officially name a $5.9 million high-technology center in his honor.

“I can’t think of a better place or facility to have my name attached,” he said. “It’s at the core of the economic improvement” of the Mahoning Valley.

During Taft’s eight years as governor, the state provided $3.5 million needed for the project.

“We’re trying very hard to change the economy of the state,” Taft said.

Facilities such as the Youngstown Business Incubator and the Taft Technology Center, to be built next to the incubator on West Federal Street, are vital components in accomplishing that goal, he said.

Mark Brown, a YBI board member and general manager of The Vindicator, said Taft “had the biggest role in making this project possible.” Without the governor’s assistance, the project wouldn’t happen, Brown said.

Five buildings were demolished last month at the site of the Taft center. A request for proposals to design and build the center is expected next month.