AKRON—A new chapter is being written in the city's rich history as an epicenter of the rubber world, as Akron has been selected as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The designation—a result of the staunch support of Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) at the federal level—will maintain Akron's position as a leader in next-generation, more sustainable rubber and plastics production, Brown said.
"With our rich manufacturing history, Ohio is a natural fit to host a regional technology hub," the senator said in an Oct. 23 news release. "As the historic rubber capital of the world, Akron is the ideal location for the future of sustainable polymers, to produce the domestic rubber and plastics of the 21st century.
"This investment will ensure that Ohio will lead in the technologies of the future, with Akron at the center of sustainable materials innovation."
The "Tech Hubs," as they are known, were created by Brown's CHIPS Act of 2022, which brings historic levels of funding for domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
Akron was one of 30 locations selected as a Tech Hub out of more than 500 submissions. Tech Hubs are intended to drive high-end regional technology and manufacturing, among other goals.
"Akron is at the cutting edge of polymer research and innovation," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "Our city has a long history in the polymer industry and we are proud of this new designation as a regional tech hub.
"I thank Sen. Brown for his continued support of our region and our city, and I look forward to the work ahead here in Akron."
With the Tech Hub designation, the Northeast Ohio city will be eligible for an implementation award in the tens of millions of dollars range from the EDA (between five and 10 of the 30 Tech Hubs will be selected for this money).
Akron already has secured a $400,000 strategy development grant from the DOC's Economic Development Administration for the University of Akron and the Akron Chamber of Commerce for Sustainable Polymers.
"It's exciting to see progress in the work we've done with our industry and economic development partners over the last couple years to double down on our region's legacy in polymers to create a new future for advanced materials that are both functional and sustainable," said Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. "Being selected for the designation and strategy development grant is both validating for our work and another step toward investing in our region's future."
Millard said he knew competition for the selection "would be fierce," but remains confident that the region's history brings scientific know-how and capacity for innovation.
"We appreciate the support and the investment in what's next for advanced, sustainable polymers," he said.
The thrust of innovations at the Akron Tech Hub will center on the semiconductor, electric vehicle and battery spaces.
A specific location has not yet been determined for the Akron hub, according to Brown's office. The city and its partners are set to release a development plan in the spring.
"This is a community with a rich history of partnership and collaboration for economic development, work force creation and innovation," said Gary Miller, president of the University of Akron. "Our designation as a Tech Hub and the awarding of a development grant both affirms this great history and ensures our continuation as a national leader in polymer and advanced materials research, education, training and technology innovation."
Brown was critical in pushing the CHIPS Act of 2022, which contains funding essential to Ohio industries specifically, through its approval process.
"By investing in Ohio's manufacturing, research and higher education, the CHIPS Act will restore critical supply chains, help lower costs for Ohioans and create thousands of good-paying jobs," Brown said after the legislation was passed in August 2022. "This is a first step toward ending decades of corporate offshoring of our supply chains that cost Ohio jobs and now is costing everyone by causing inflation.
"We are putting another nail in the coffin for the term 'Rust Belt'—and we're just getting started."
The legislation had an immediate impact, prompting Intel's $20 billion investment to build a new semiconductor manufacturing facility in New Albany, Ohio.
This plant is expected to create about 10,000 jobs when it is operational, expected in 2025.
The concrete already has been poured for the foundation, a September news report in New Albany stated.
Currently, about 90 percent of microchips are manufactured overseas.
And in August, Brown called on the EDA to consider the value of locating Tech Hubs in Ohio.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Brown cited projects such as advanced next-generation aerospace technologies in Southwest Ohio through a Cincinnati-Dayton collaboration; a regional engine for semiconductors partnering with cloud computing and electric vehicle manufacturing through a Columbus-Appalachia collaboration; solar technology development and manufacturing in Northwest Ohio; or a range of industries from sustainable polymers to artificial intelligence in Northeast Ohio.
"I urge you to carefully consider each of the globally competitive applications submitted by entities in Ohio," Brown said in his letter. "Each represents a promising investment in our nation's industrial growth and would advance the mission of the Tech Hubs as envisioned by the CHIPS and Science Act."
In addition to his recent Ohio jobs and national defense advocacy, Brown helped add natural rubber as a critical material in the National Defense Authorization.
In particular, this designation works to forward research and development into an increased domestic supply of natural rubber.
And last year, Brown was key in obtaining National Science Foundation awards of nearly $1 million for the University of Akron to conduct polymer research as part of the Akron-centric Polymer Industry Cluster.
"Goodyear strongly supports the Polymer Industry Cluster, a collective effort to leverage our region's unmatched strengths in the polymer industry," said Richard Kramer, Goodyear CEO and president. "This funding will energize our ability to solve industry-wide challenges and drive innovation in priority areas like sustainability, which is a business imperative for our company and many others."
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