Thursday provided a look into Youngstown's future

A few shovels of dirt were turned in downtown Youngstown on Thursday in a symbolic groundbreaking for the Taft Technology Center.
Actually, the pile of dirt was on the sidewalk on Federal Plaza West, a few feet from a gaping hole created when five dilapidated buildings were razed to make way for the center. It would have been more dramatic to have Gov. Bob Taft operate a crane and take the first swing at the old buildings with a wrecking ball. It would have made a better picture to have dignitaries sinking their shovels deep into the ground on which the new building will rise.
But reality took precedence over theatrics in regard to this project. And reality required that the building site be cleared on schedule.
The Taft Technology Center is the second step in the construction of a new economy in downtown Youngstown. It will be built adjacent to the Youngstown Business Incubator, which has proved to be one of the most successful high-tech projects in the area -- in fact, in the state.
Succes story
There are 164 employees in the incubator working for companies that are establishing their credentials as leaders in their industries, especially with software products that are being used worldwide.
The average salary for workers in the incubator is 58,000, which is high for such facilities. One of the reasons it is high is that companies nurtured in the incubator are maturing, which is exactly why the new Taft Technology Center is needed.
It will provide space for companies that have outgrown an incubator to prosper and expand.
Naming the center after Taft raised some eyebrows. As governor, he has had his share of controversy.
But, as we have said before, Taft has been consistent in his belief that Ohio's future lies in the technology of tomorrow, and he has worked hard to make his vision a reality.
He relentlessly pursued his Third Frontier Project, which has shown results in the Mahoning Valley and in communities across the state. By the administration's count, more than 200 companies have been attracted, created or retained in Ohio through Third Frontier initiatives.
More to come
The success of the Youngstown Business Incubator, the construction of the Taft Technology Center and the development of a third phase involving two other downtown buildings are changing the face of Federal Street. They are also helping to change the city's image and are bringing a new reality to the college graduates of today and tomorrow: There is work to be done here at home.
A collaborative effort of community-minded citizens, state, local and federal officeholders and entrepreneurs too numerous to mention have made the incubator and its sister facilities a vital part of the Valley's future.
The building will be named for Gov. Bob Taft in recognition of his commitment to high-tech enterprises as the future of this area, but everyone involved can take pride in what is happening.