Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro is celebrating Akron’s designation as a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub. The Department of Commerce Tech Hubs Program was created by the CHIPS Act, passed in 2022, to drive regional technology growth by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies.
Akron’s Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, led by the Greater Akron Chamber and supported by a coalition of partners including Summit County, aims to tackle the severe climate and environmental impacts resulting from the use of fossil fuel-derived polymers (rubbers and plastics) through accelerating sustainable polymer manufacturing and commercialization in the United States.
“Our polymer industry continues to be a foundation of economic growth and prosperity, and this exciting news is a testament to our ability to innovate and stay contemporary,” said County Executive Shapiro. “I am grateful for the local, state and federal partnerships that facilitated this designation. Once again, Summit County came together to make this achievement a reality.”
In conjunction with the designation, Akron was awarded a $400,000 strategy development grant for the University of Akron and the Greater Akron Chamber for Sustainable Polymers, and will be eligible to apply for additional funding.
Senator Sherrod Brown press release: https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-announces-akron-selected-regional-tech-hub
U.S. Economic Development Administration Regional Technology Hub website: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/regional-technology-and-innovation-hubs
