Over $60M investment into Ohio-based Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense
February 28, 2025
The state government of Ohio has announced the creation of the Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense, the state’s fourth innovation hub, in Youngstown. Funded with $26 million from the Ohio Innovation Hubs programme and $36 million in local, federal, and private investment, the hub will support the area’s economic development locally and statewide, by capitalising on the region’s long-standing Additive Manufacturing technology and research.
“Building on the region’s deep manufacturing roots, Youngstown has spent the last decade establishing itself as a leader in the research, development, and commercialisation of additive technology,” stated Mike DeWine, Ohio Governor. “With support from the Ohio Innovation Hubs programme, partners will now have added capacity to drive critical advancements in the defence and aerospace industries by transforming the way military equipment is made and strengthening our country’s national defence supply chains.”
In addition to state, local, federal, and private investments, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will contribute $1.2 million to the Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense through the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) programme. This funding will support the design and engineering of the new facility, as well as initial renovations.
In February 2023, America Makes joined forces with the City of Youngstown, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, state legislators, and business leaders to form a coalition vying for innovation hub funding from the governor’s budget plan. Backed by partnerships and a proven track record in Additive Manufacturing research, technology, and workforce development, the coalition positioned Youngstown as an ideal site.
“Partners in this region have been laying the foundation for the Youngstown Innovation Hub for years, and it’s incredibly moving to see their hard work pay off,” said Lt Governor Jim Tressel. “Today’s announcement is a victory for this community, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
John Wilczynski, Executive Director of America Makes, explained, “For over a decade, we have collaborated with our members from industry, academia, government, and workforce organisations to drive Additive Manufacturing adoption and enhance US manufacturing competitiveness. Together with our regional ecosystem partners, we have elevated Youngstown as the epicentre for market-ready Additive Manufacturing technologies. This initiative strengthens that foundation, aligning our capabilities with the defence and aerospace industries and empowering small-to-medium manufacturers to leverage advanced technologies for new opportunities in these critical sectors.”
The Youngstown Innovation Hub is intended to act as a catalyst in fortifying current and emerging supply chain manufacturing connections within the Mahoning Valley’s aerospace and defence sectors. By bolstering the industries and expanding market presence, the hub is also expected to meet Ohio’s evolving needs.
“The technologies commercialised through the Hub for aerospace and defence will ripple into other sectors, including energy, medical devices, construction, and semiconductors,” explained Kimberly Gibson, Ecosystem Director at America Makes. “With its focus on enabling technology and optimising core manufacturing processes, the hub positions Additive Manufacturing as a key force in driving the future of these diverse industries, ushering in a new era of innovation and economic growth.”
According to Alexander Steeb, Senior Operations Director of America Makes, a significant portion of the state’s funding will be used to adapt and construct the hub’s high-quality manufacturing space located in the former Vindicator II building. “This will complement the Youngstown Business Incubator’s existing ‘technology campus’ with up to 75,000 ft2 (6,968 m2), of manufacturing space and approximately 30,000 ft2 (2,787 m2) of equipment, office, and convening space. The sprawling facility is centrally located and ideal for housing larger, complex additive manufacturing equipment that currently does not have adequate space to call their own,” he said.
By 2029, project partners expect the work of the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense to create approximately 450 new jobs in the Mahoning Valley (Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Ashtabula counties), and $161.6 million in increased state revenue. Partners will also work to develop the local workforce growth of the Additive Manufacturing industry over the long term by not only increasing the number of jobs, but also by offering forty interns and 185 new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) credential certificates. This initiative aims to attract and retain the next generation of innovators and engineers. Efforts will emphasise scaling training and curricula programmes targeting re- and up-skilling for both youth and adults. The hub will also provide support for small businesses looking to commercialise new AM applications.
“I’d like to thank Governor DeWine for helping further our vision for the future of Youngstown,” said Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown. “The Innovation Hub is not only an anchor to the other economic investments we’ve made to bring our downtown back, but it cements Youngstown as the national leader in Additive Manufacturing and creates technology-based jobs right here that will attract and retain the best and brightest.”
