Youngstown Maker City Initiative Kickoff open house for public is Sunday

YOUNGSTOWN

By now, most people in the Mahoning Valley have heard about the America Makes facility and the 3-D manufacturing occurring inside.

They have heard politicians, business leaders, academics and even President Barack Obama promote the facility.

Now, for the first time, the 236 W. Boardman St. facility will open its doors to the public Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Youngstown Maker City Initiative Kickoff open house event is part of the Maker City weekend scheduled Thursday through Sunday and includes a number of private events that are being hosted by Make: magazine, a publication that focuses on 3-D manufacturing.

People have heard a lot about the facility, said Scott Deutsch, manager of communications and special programs at America Makes.

“The people in the manufacturing world understand what we do,” he said. “This is a chance for the public to come out and see it for themselves.”

There is a lot of research going on in the facility, and people might not understand everything, but it will show what 3-D manufacturing technology is and some of its applications, Deutsch said.

This event will showcase the technology and what it might do in the future, said Barb Ewing, chief operating officer for the Youngstown Business Incubator.

Read more about the event in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.