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Warren’s Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center finally making plans to open building
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
On one front, it’s been a tough three years for the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center.
There have been extensive delays in getting started on the $3.1 million renovation of its 39,000-square-foot downtown facility.
On another front, however, things have been going quite well for the business incubator, said Dave Nestic, the facility’s chief executive of regional operations.
Nestic and the business incubator’s chief executive for national initiatives, Chris Mather, have been quite busy helping about 50 energy-related companies generate $2 million worth of investment and grants in the past three years. In all, they have worked with about 100 companies, in some cases providing mentoring from one of the several “experts in residence” TBEIC offers.
They’ve worked with clients in several energy-innovation and clean-technology areas, such as fuel cells, solar and wind power, power and propulsion, energy materials and sensors, building energy, fuels and water.
While working with TBEIC, clients have acquired six federal grants and funding from several other sources. Among the companies they have worked with have been the past two Ohio Clean Energy Challenge winners.
Nestic and Mather were hired in September 2011 and have worked out of various locations, including the lower level of the Wean Foundation offices next door to TBEIC.
They also have wrestled with the challenges associated with the building. The incubator was awarded a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2009, but it required a dollar-for-dollar match. Some of that came from the state.
The funding puzzle is now nearly complete, including a nearly $1 million Ohio Historical Preservation tax credit, but the process took longer than expected, Nestic said.
On a couple of occasions, new officials came on board at the Department of Energy, and they wanted a complete review of the project so they could understand it all, Nestic said. There have been many other types of reviews through various government agencies and Youngstown State University, fiscal agent for the federal and state funding.
Last November, work began on the building’s roof and hazardous materials. Renovation work stalled again through the spring and summer but started up again earlier this month.
“It’s been a challenge, but we’re nearing completion now,” Nestic said of the funding and bureaucratic aspects.
The construction project was fully underway last week at the former S.S. Kresge Co. five-and-dime store at 125 W. Market Street across from the courthouse. The projected completion date is the end of this year.
“We’re hoping construction will continue unstopped now,” Nestic said.
Among the features of the space will be a large second-floor technology lab, where companies will be able to use TBEIC equipment to conduct energy-related testing, such as developing fuel cells used in automobiles or homes.
There will be a conference area on the first floor and office space for startup companies as well as smaller meeting rooms.
An open-air space on the second floor might become a meeting or dining area and could be used for solar testing, Nestic said.
A part of the research lab extends over David Grohl Alley and into a building behind it. The first floor of the rear building will be offices and industrial operations needing heavy equipment.
“We could have had a half a dozen companies in the building by now if we would have had it ready by now,” Nestic said.
TBEIC shares a great deal in common with the Youngstown Business Incubator, such as being part of the JumpStart Entrepreneurial Network based in Cleveland, Nestic said. JumpStart partners such as YBI and TBEIC foster entrepreneurship across the 21 counties of Northeast Ohio.
Nestic, of Salem, also has been on the YBI board of directors for seven years.