Breaking: Brown Announces Major Investment in Akron Regional Tech Hub

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that Akron was named one of 12 national Tech Hubs around the country, beating out nearly 500 other cities and bringing a major new $51 million investment to support the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub. This investment will position the region to lead in developing and producing the next generation of rubber and plastics. These materials are critical to nearly every industrial sector and will enable innovation in other fields like sustainability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and semiconductors. The investment will also help create good paying jobs in the polymer industry, support new training opportunities, and give students at local universities and colleges the chance to work in a cutting-edge field.

The Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program was established as part of Brown's Bipartisan CHIPS Act to bring together companies, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, labor unions, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen American leadership in industries of the future, create jobs, and spur economic growth. Brown helped write the CHIPS and Science Act with cities like Akron in mind. After nearly 500 applications were submitted for the Department of Commerce's review in the first round of the Tech Hub competition, Akron was selected as one of 31 finalists from across the country which were eligible to compete for additional federal support. This week, Akron was selected as one of 12 hubs to receive this full investment. Brown supported Akron's application at every step of the competitive two-year application process.

"This is a major win for Akron. Akron beat out nearly 500 other applicants from every corner of the country, because no one does manufacturing like Ohio workers," said Brown. "We worked with local leaders and the business community to highlight Akron's manufacturing history and leadership, and pushed the Administration to make this happen. This investment will position Northeast Ohio to lead in producing the next generation of rubber and plastics, creating local jobs, growing local businesses, and expanding opportunities in Akron for decades to come."

"With over 150 polymer-related manufacturing companies in the Akron MSA alone, and more than 500 across Northeast Ohio, this award strengthens the foothold that Greater Akron has as the place for sustainable polymers research, innovation and collaboration. This new investment will attract companies and talent, while continuing to drive growth and development of the industry's newest innovations," said Steve Millard, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. "Our selection for this award could not have happened without the support, investment, engagement and activity of hundreds of for-profit industry leaders, not-for-profit economic development partners and local, state and federal appointed and elected officials. Collaboration has been a distinct feature of the Polymer Industry Cluster and that is prevalent throughout this achievement as well."

The Tech Hubs Program was created by Brown's CHIPS Act to drive regional technology growth by strengthening a region's capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies, and Brown urged the Commerce Department to choose a project located in Ohio. Through regional investments in places like Summit County, the Tech Hubs program will help to strengthen U.S. economic and national security by bringing together public, private, and academic partners to drive regional growth in the industries of the future. Akron's hub brings together the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, the University of Akron, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and other Summit County stakeholders to create jobs, support the growth of local businesses, and develop the polymers of the future to continue the state's leadership in manufacturing and innovation.

For over a decade, Brown has supported investments in polymer research at the University of Akron. In July, Brown fought to include an amendment in the National Defense Authorization that would designate rubber as a critical material - enabling the Defense Department to take steps to engage in research and development to increase the domestic supply of natural rubber. In 2022, Brown announced two separate National Science Foundation awards to the University of Akron on polymer research totaling almost $1 million. And as part of this past year's government funding bill, Brown partnered with Rep. Emilia Sykes to bring an additional $1,050,000 to the University of Akron for continued work in polymers.

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