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Huntington gives substantial support to YBI
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
A substantial gift to the Youngstown Business Incubator will sustain one of the organization’s entrepreneurship programs.
On Wednesday, YBI unveiled a new sign to visually display the support from Columbus-based Huntington Bank.
“They are going to take the program to the next level,” said Jim Cossler, the incubator’s chief executive officer.
Huntington, a longtime supporter of YBI, now has its name attached to the program, which has been renamed to The Huntington Bank Entrepreneurship Program for Information Technology.
“We are extremely proud and excited to support YBI,” said William Shivers, Huntington president for the Mahoning Valley and Akron/Canton regions.
The monetary value of Huntington’s gift was not released, but Shivers said it was substantial and is a four-year commitment.
Huntington chose to increase its support for YBI because of what the organization does in the community. Shivers noted the organization provides local graduates the opportunity to stay local and form a career.
“They have done a lot of great things,” Shivers said. “The economic impact is incredible. They are going to continue to expand, and that will be beneficial to the Mahoning Valley.”
YBI has three entrepreneurial programs: the program for information technology, a program for additive manufacturing and an entrepreneurship program for women.
Huntington’s support of the IT entrepreneurship program will expand its scope, quality and range, Cossler said.
“It is going to allow me to almost exclusively focus on startups,” Cossler said.
Cossler will cross over to help the additive program and the women’s entrepreneurship program where and when he can add value.
Cossler also provided an update on the old Vindicator building on Vindicator Square and Boardman Street, which will be the organization’s fifth building in its campus. YBI expects to move companies into the building starting next year.
“That will be filled very rapidly,” Cossler said.