Congressman Tim Ryan Announces $245,000 for Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center in Warren
Washington, DC – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Tim Ryan today announced a $245,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center (TBEIC) in Warren, Ohio. The grant will be used to match funds provided by the State of Ohio to build out the technical capabilities in TBEIC’s Shared Resources Center.
“The Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center is an engine for economic growth for our community, state, and when considering the innovations they’re helping to usher in, the country as a whole. As I’ve said many times, the importance of the investments made by the Appalachian Regional Commission cannot be understated. As long as I am a member of Congress, I will fight against proposed cuts from the Administration to make sure the Commission is empowered to continue engaging in this critical development work,” said Congressman Ryan.
“The development of the TBEIC Shared Resource Lab has been a key part of our business strategy. The announcement of the ARC grant award will unlock our matching funds from the state of Ohio and will allow us to build out our Shared Resource Lab. The testing and certification lab will be a significant attraction piece to the TBEIC program and will enable us to enter the next phase of our energy incubation program. The lab will be a regional testing facility that will lead to the attraction of entrepreneurs and businesses to the city of Warren and the Mahoning Valley,” said John Pogue, Board President of TBEIC.
“This investment will enable the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center to guide small energy companies through their critical start-up phases.” Said Earl Gohl, Federal Co-Chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission. “Institutional start-up and incubation support like this is critical to help firms across Ohio and the rest of Appalachia be successful and sustainable.”
Technical focal points include a grid-connectivity and simulation lab, as well as an intelligent device lab, where IoT (Internet of Things) devices can be tested and certified per emerging industry standards in a grid-connected environment. The Shared Resource Center will also be used to help local industry make decisions regarding investment in new energy-saving technologies through technical demonstrations and testing.
President Trump’s first Budget outline proposed to eliminate funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission. The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia and help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. In the past 50 years, ARC’s $3.8 billion investments resulted in 312,000 jobs and $10.5 billion in additional earnings.
