From the Ben Konop for Lucas County Commissioner Campaign:
Konop to Propose High Tech Incubator in Downtown Toledo
Democratic Candidate set to unveil first initiative in his “Jobs Now” plan for Lucas County
( Toledo , OH ) - Democratic candidate for Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop will hold a press conference tomorrow, Sunday, September 24th, to discuss the first prong of his “Jobs Now” plan for Lucas County: the creation of a high tech incubator for small high tech firms in Lucas County. Konop will be unveiling his proposal Sunday at 2pm in front of One Seagate Center, the former, and now virtually empty, headquarters of O-I.
Konop’s proposal for a high tech incubator is modeled after a successful program used in Youngstown to encourage job growth in emerging high tech industries. The incubator, at a minimal cost to taxpayers, provides office space, utilities, and technical support and mentoring to a limited number of selected high tech start ups. The businesses share resources within a previously empty office building. Efficiencies and collaborations are encouraged because of this close proximity of similar companies. In Youngstown, the high tech incubator has created nearly 200 jobs , 16 patents, and 19 software applications.
“If Youngstown can do it,” questioned Konop, “why not Toledo ?”
“Job creation is the number one issue facing our community as we head into the 21st century,” stated Konop. “Because of unfair trade laws, our manufacturing base is diminishing. So it’s key that we look to the future, and supporting a high tech incubator is one way in which county government can help create jobs and get our economy moving again,” added Konop.
“I think it’s time for a change in Lucas County, and the high tech incubator will signal to the rest of the world that our community is ready to do business and create jobs in the 21st century,” said Konop. “As Commissioner, I’ll make sure that the right parties are brought to the table, the project gets moving, and that county government makes a serious, long-term commitment to 21st century jobs.”
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8 comments:
If you want to read more about what Youngstown is doing, some articles of interest I found:
Cleveland Plain Dealer from March of 2006
Press Release from Gov. Taft on some funding Youngstown received.
Website of the Youngstown Business Incubator.
And...some local discussion on what Youngstown was doing over on Toledo Talk when I posted the Cleveland Plain Dealer article mentioned above.
:-)
The juxtaposition of your two consecutive postings brings a smile.
It would be really great if more start ups, well started up here, but there seems to me, to be an over whelming sense of the past pervading the city in general.
The mayor and team have a vision of the way life once was, ala the vision of a 1950's strip mall for Westgate.
It is 2006 and we need a 2006 vision from the inside out.
People cling to the idea that once worked will continue to work now. Maumee tries to convince Ford to keep a plant open with tax incentives.
The areas dependence and reliance of the car industry is doomed. The car industry is not what it once was.
We need a new vision and a reason from the candidates and those in office now for the new vision.
And I have not read much about a new vision for the area, aside from reliance on the car industry and the like.
What's even funnier Lib Dem is I didn't even do it on purpose.
:-)
Anonymous, I agree with you on the pervading presence of the past being part of what gets in the way of change here.
Very well written comment, thank you.
:-)
That is exciting. I think I may have to attend.
What both candidates....actually all politicians should do is state "we will get out of the way of entrepreneurs and quit applying antiquated ordinances, zoning rules and other idiotic laws that hinder economic development."
Toledo and Lucas County are notorious for their bureaucracy telling business people (who by the way are not looking for government money) "No." So, they look at northern Wood County and then go there or some place like Findlay that is business friendly. Our politicians then seem bewildered as to why the business didn't choose their respective locale while at the same time being unwilling to change their rules and regulations that either ran off a current business or stopped a new business from coming.
On another note, the vast majority of entrepreneurs don't ask for government money because it comes with "strings attached," so they want nothing to do with it. The history of public monies going to companies that became a success has been poor.
My advice to Benjamin or George or any other politician..."Please get out of the way."
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