Taft center construction begins

YOUNGSTOWN — Construction crews have begun laying the foundation for the $3.74 million Taft Technology Center on West Federal Street. The 30,000-square-foot building, to be constructed between the Youngstown Business Incubator and the vacant Semple Building, “is the next step in the progression of technological development in downtown Youngstown,” said Community Improvement Corporation acting president Reid Dulberger. The center will house burgeoning high-tech companies, like current Business Incubator tenant Turning Technologies — recently named the 7th fastest-growing small business in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine, said Dulberger. It will also provide a range of incentives to high-tech upstarts from human and communications resources to reduced or free rent, said Dulberger. “It will provide additional space so that we can attract additional high-tech companies” said Dulberger. “We know that technology-intensive jobs are the jobs that are expected to grow not just locally but nationally.” The agency expects the center to open in March of 2008. It is across the street from the Mahoning County Children Services Board building and the Voinovich Government Center.