YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A major investment in Youngstown’s manufacturing future is set to bring new opportunities to the region, as state leaders have announced the creation of the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense. The project, backed by $26 million from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program and an additional $36 million in federal, local, and private funding, will focus on advancing additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to support the production of military equipment.
Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel unveiled the initiative alongside Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, calling it a transformative step for both Youngstown and the national defense industry.
“With support from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program, partners will now have added capacity to drive critical advancements in the defense and aerospace industries by transforming the way military equipment is made and strengthening our country’s national defense supply chains,” DeWine said.
A hub for cutting-edge manufacturing
The Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense will be housed in the Vindicator II Building on West Front Street, a site previously used for newspaper printing operations. The facility will undergo significant renovations to accommodate large-scale 3D printing equipment and serve as a hub for manufacturing companies specializing in aerospace and defense technology.
Led by America Makes, the U.S. Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for additive technology, the project brings together a strong coalition of partners. Among them are Youngstown Business Incubator, Youngstown State University, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, and the City of Youngstown.
Tressel acknowledged the years of effort by local leaders and industry partners in preparing for this opportunity.
“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,” Tressel said. “Today’s announcement is a victory for this community, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Economic impact and workforce development
The hub is projected to create 450 new jobs, including 100 construction jobs, by 2029, with an expected economic impact of $161.6 million. A key component of the initiative is its focus on workforce development, which will ensure that both current and future workers have the skills to thrive in the evolving manufacturing sector.
Officials anticipate that the project will result in 185 new STEM credential opportunities and 40 internships, offering hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing.
“The Ohio Innovation Hubs Program is a direct investment in Ohio’s people and communities,” Mihalik said. “We’re ensuring that the next breakthroughs in additive manufacturing are proudly ‘Made in Ohio.’ Beyond the technology developed here, the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense will drive lasting economic growth and create opportunities that will benefit this region and its people for generations to come.”
Strengthening Youngstown’s role in national defense
The hub’s advanced manufacturing capabilities are expected to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers while accelerating the production of specialized parts for defense applications.
“The Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense will be a catalyst for strengthening both current and emerging supply chain manufacturing connections within the Mahoning Valley’s aerospace and defense sectors,” said Kimberly Gibson, ecosystem director at America Makes. “By enhancing these industries’ capabilities and expanding their market presence, the Hub will not only boost local industrial capacity but also pave the way for cutting-edge solutions to meet Ohio’s evolving needs.”
Gibson also noted that the technologies developed at the Youngstown hub will extend beyond aerospace and defense, with potential applications in medical technology, energy, construction, and semiconductors.
A boost for downtown Youngstown
City leaders view the hub as a major step forward for downtown Youngstown, complementing other economic development projects aimed at revitalizing the area.
“I’d like to thank Governor DeWine for helping further our vision for the future of Youngstown,” Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said. “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.”
A growing network of innovation hubs
The Ohio Innovation Hubs Program, a $125 million state initiative designed to expand economic opportunities outside major metropolitan areas, has established several hubs across the state. Youngstown’s facility joins other innovation hubs focused on advanced manufacturing, including the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub near Toledo, the onMain Innovation Hub in Dayton, and the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will also contribute $1.2 million to Youngstown’s innovation hub, supporting the project through a grant program aimed at revitalizing communities impacted by historic coal mining.
A community effort
The project’s success is credited to a broad coalition of local government, nonprofit, business, and academic partners, all working together to secure funding and resources.
“This truly represents the best of the Mahoning Valley,” said Barb Ewing, CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator. “This community came together to achieve this goal. Without the support of our local government, nonprofit, industry, and academic leadership, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber also highlighted the hub’s potential to shape the future of manufacturing in the region.
“Additive manufacturing, especially in the cutting-edge industries of aerospace and defense, gives the Mahoning Valley a sustainable, competitive advantage to grow its economy,” said Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the chamber. “Projects like this, which are expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, as well as provide upskilling opportunities in advanced manufacturing through Youngstown State University and connect interns with businesses, are exactly why we continue to invest in our regional workforce.”
With the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense now officially in motion, state officials project that Ohio’s four hubs combined will generate over $1 billion in economic impact by 2031, creating thousands of jobs and expanding STEM education opportunities statewide.
For more details on the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program, visit the Ohio Department of Development’s website.