Ribbon cutting Monday for Taft Technology Center

YOUNGSTOWN — Former Gov. Bob Taft will return to Youngstown Monday to celebrate the building that bears his name.

He and other officials will join in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Taft Technology Center, 255 W. Federal St.

The building is designed for technology companies that are ready to move from the Youngstown Business Incubator next door. The incubator provides free rent and other services to fledgling companies.

The first tenant of the new building is Turning Technologies, which has grown to 130 local employees but had remained in the incubator while the new building was erected. Turning Technologies, which moved into the building two weeks ago, produces audience response systems that are used in the classroom and corporate training events.

Taft arranged for $3.5 million of the construction costs for the building from state funds. His administration viewed the money as an investment that would spur the creation of high-tech jobs.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration also provided $2 million for the project. Total cost of the building was $5.8 million.

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com