Taft to be in town for opening of center

By Don Shilling

Congressman Ryan also will mark the opening of the technology building.

YOUNGSTOWN — Former Gov. Bob Taft will return to Youngstown Monday to celebrate the building that bears his name.

He and other officials will join in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Taft Technology Center, 255 W. Federal St.

The building is designed for technology companies that are ready to move from the Youngstown Business Incubator next door. The incubator provides free rent and other services to fledgling companies.

The first tenant of the new building is Turning Technologies, which has grown to 130 local employees but had remained in the incubator while the new building was erected. Turning Technologies, which moved into the building two weeks ago, produces audience response systems that are used in the classroom and corporate training events.

Taft arranged for $3.5 million of the construction costs for the building from state funds. His administration viewed the money as an investment that would spur the creation of high-tech jobs.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration also provided $2 million for the project. Total cost of the building was $5.8 million.

Also taking part in the ceremony will be U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams; G. Richard Pavlock, board chairman of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp.; Garry Mrozek, board chairman of the incubator; and Michael Broderick, chief executive of Turning Technologies.

The 30,000-square-foot Taft Technology Center is part of an effort to create a multibuilding technology campus downtown. The community improvement corporation developed the project with contractor Mike Coates Construction Co. and plans to turn over ownership to the incubator.