AKRON, Ohio — Polymers are in everything. The rubber in tires, the plastic in medical devices, even fabric and electronics.
"With the creation of the Polymer Innovation Hub, Akron will be where the future of the polymer industry is," declared Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on a recent visit to the Greater Akron Chamber.
Years of collaboration have brought Akron here. A $31.25 million grant from the State of Ohio to redefine the city's manufacturing base. DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted shared the news alongside representatives from the University of Akron, Goodyear and Bridgestone.
"It really takes us from a thought engine and thinking about what we can do to be involved. It takes some concrete actions to put together resources, to put together the infrastructure that we need to attract innovators to the area and to the technology," said Mark Smale, director of Advanced Polymer Science at Bridgestone and the co-chair of the Greater Akron Polymer Cluster.
Much of the grant money will create a Polymer Pilot Plant. It will facilitate the testing and prototyping of new materials that will have immediate commercial use. It's estimated the hub will create roughly 2,400 jobs and attract $70 million in investments to the region. One major goal is to make polymer products more sustainable.
"The most innovative things that affect everybody on this planet are going to happen in these communities, happening right here in Akron," said Husted.
The Greater Akron Chamber is behind this work. It brought together companies and institutions to form a Polymer Cluster, later designated as a Tech Hub by the U.S. government. Leading to a $51 million federal investment. Now along with this state funding, it's highlighting the city's capabilities.
"Akron should embrace the idea that they can be world class is doing this. And nobody on the planet will do it better than they will," stated Husted.
"There were days when we didn't believe that we were going to be able to get to this point,” said Smale. “But we always had to continue to pick ourselves up and move forward. And getting here is just amazing."
The Ohio Innovation Hub program is meant to help small to medium sized cities to capitalize on the existing industry base. Two other hubs were announced early this year, in the cities of Toledo and Dayton.