Center to be named for Taft

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This is the first building in Ohio named for the outgoing governor.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A technology center to be built on West Federal Street will be named after outgoing Gov. Bob Taft.

This is the first place ever named for Taft, according to Mark Rickel, his spokesman.

Taft, a Republican whose last day as governor is Jan. 7, will come to Youngstown for the Thursday groundbreaking of the Taft Technology Center.

During Taft's eight years as governor, the state provided $2.75 million from its capital budget and $750,000 from the Clean Ohio Fund for the $5.9 million technology center project. Other funds came from the federal government in the form of a $2 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant and $248,000 through Congress sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.

Taft is "excited" to have the building named in his honor, Rickel said. Taft is a longtime supporter of this project and technology centers throughout the state, Rickel said.

Taft has visited the Youngstown Business Incubator, next door to the proposed tech center, numerous times during his eight years as governor.

"This is a great testimony to his support for high-tech centers," Rickel said of Taft.

Across the street from the technology center site is the George V. Voinovich Government Center, named for the current U.S. senator who served eight years as governor immediately prior to Taft.

Recommended name

Mark Brown, a YBI board member and general manager of The Vindicator, said it was his idea to name the center after Taft. The YBI board agreed with Brown's recommendation.

"He's been very committed to the downtown, to Youngstown, to technology and to the incubator," Brown said. "He deserves the recognition."

Brown pointed out that the average salary of an employee working at a company in the incubator is in excess of $58,000 a year, and the high-tech facility is a key part of the downtown's economic revitalization.

Taft is leaving office with one of the lowest approval ratings for elected officials in the nation. A judge found Taft guilty last year of four misdemeanor ethics violations — making him the only Ohio governor found guilty of a crime while serving.

Despite the convictions, Brown said he had no hesitation in urging the incubator board to honor Taft by naming the center after him.

"It's his commitment to Youngstown and high tech and redevelopment of the [downtown] area," Brown cited as the reasons for naming the center for Taft. "His commitment to the center has been steadfast."

Preparations

Five buildings between the business incubator and the Semple Building were demolished last month to make way for the technology center. A request for proposals to construct the facility, which will be up to 30,000 square feet, is expected shortly.

The incubator board is already looking at a second expansion project. The state's proposed capital budget includes $2.75 million for another technology project along West Federal Street. The total second expansion project cost is about $5.9 million with the work being done in phases.

The initial phase calls for the asbestos remediation and demolition of the vacant Armed Forces Building and the old State Theater as well as a major renovation of the Wells and Semple buildings on the south side of the street. That phase is expected to begin next summer.

skolnick@vindy.com

Saturday, December 16, 2006