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Kresge Building to house Tech Belt facility

Friday, June 10, 2011

Staff report

WARREN

The Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center’s headquarters has been acquired.

The old Kresge Building, 125 W. Market St., passed engineering and environmental testing, according to a release from Prodigal, TBEIC’s media-relations agency.

TBEIC’s board now will request a proposal to rehabilitate the building; a successful proposal is expected sometime next month.

“Our vision for TBEIC is really starting to take shape now,” said John Pogue, board chairman. “Soon we’ll have space to work in and a staff to act on all the forward-thinking new energy ideas that come our way and would benefit from our expertise.”

It’s too early to tell when the building will be completed, said Vince Bevacqua, Prodigal vice president of media and public relations, but the center may stagger its rehabilitation to allow some workers to move in early.

TBEIC also announced it has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, part of the center’s efforts to raise funds to match Department of Energy grants.