Taft center places Valley in the global high-tech arena

Taft center places Valley in the global high-tech arena

The $5.8 million Taft Technology Center on West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown is more than a modern building that bears the name of former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. It’s a statement — to the nation and the world that the once mighty industrial Mahoning Valley is ready, willing and able to compete in the lucrative high-technology arena.

When Taft cut the ribbon Monday to formally open the 30,000-square-foot, market-ready building that was paid for by the state and federal governments, he was putting an exclamation point on his commitment to this region during his eight years as governor.

It was through his steadfast support for the expansion of the Youngstown Business Incubator, which has gained a national reputation for helping start-up tech companies mature, that the idea for a new building to house YBI firms was born.

As governor, Taft recognized the need to persuade incubated companies to remain in the downtown Youngstown area; he, thus, committed $3.5 million from the state’s treasury for the new facility.

That earmark enabled the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp., which developed the project on behalf of the YBI, to secure a $2 million federal grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, with the assistance of Ohio’s two senators, extracted an additional $248,000 from Washington.

The reason the state and federal governments were willing to commit the millions of dollars is because this was not a “build it and they will come” project.

When you have one of the fastest growing software companies in the country expressing a desire to be a tenant in the facility, government officials have the justification they need for the financial commitment.

Global reach

Turning Technologies, which was located in the business incubator, is growing so fast and its global reach is expanding so quickly that the need for office space for its 130 employees was evident.

Turning, with its chief executive officer, Michael Broderick, were the impetus to ensure that construction of the Taft Technology Center moved quickly. It did. Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corporation’s development specialists and Mike Coates Construction Co. deserve praise for bringing the project in on schedule — and under budget.

It is noteworthy that ground-breaking took place on Dec. 21 after five dilapidated buildings were razed.

Naming the building after Taft did raise some eyebrows, given that his administration had its share of controversy in its later years, but there would not have been a ribbon cutting Monday for a new building in downtown Youngstown had it not been for him.

Indeed, just before Taft left office in December 2006, he secured a $2.75 million grant for the third phase of the technology campus in the downtown area.

The phase involves rehabilitation of the Semple building, which is adjacent to the Taft Technology Center, demolition of the Armed Forces building and the State Theater, and construction of a 60-space parking lot.

The facade of the State Theater would be retained.

In light of what Bob Taft, a Republican, did in establishing the state as a partner in the Valley’s high-tech endeavors, his successor, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, found it easy to pick up where Taft left off.

Strickland is looking to provide additional state dollars for the final phase, and has an eager partner in Congressman Ryan.