Tech Belt (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati: movers, universities, roofing)

[CortlandGirl79]

Movers, planners see ‘tech belt’ passing through area

By STEPHEN ORAVECZ Tribune Chronicle



YOUNGSTOWN — Two congressmen said Monday that cooperation is the key to unleashing the full potential of the region stretching from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, encompassing the Mahoning Valley.

Reps. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and Jason Altmire, D-Pa., call the region the Tech Belt. They organized a daylong conference at Youngstown State University to take the first steps toward building that cooperation.

About 100 representatives from organizations throughout the region attended. They included major hospitals such as University Hospitals in Cleveland and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh; universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve and Hiram College as well as YSU; and foundations, planning organizations and private high-tech companies.

Altmire said they tried to cover all the growth industries — from bio-technology to alternative fuels and advanced manufacturing.

John Austin of the Brookings Institution said in his opening remarks that the region already has considerable education, industrial and technological assets. For instance, he said of the top 100 universities in the world, 20 are in the area — more than in the Northeast high-tech corridor or on the West Coast.

He also said the region is a huge player in the global economy. The Great Lakes states plus Ontario, Canada, would be the world’s third-largest economy after Japan. Given the resources available, he said, the area needs to stop fearing China and starting competing to win the economic battle.

To cash in on those resources, Cleveland and Pittsburgh representatives have to limit their competition to sports, where the Steelers and Browns are rivals, and start cooperating in areas that count in the global economy, the two congressman said.

Ryan said, ‘‘Can we all survive alone? Sure, we can survive. Can we reach our potential alone? No, we can’t.’’

‘‘We have this sort of arbitrary border that has been drawn there,’’ Altmire said. ‘‘We want to break it open and bring people together.’’

The idea for the conference grew out of an announcement earlier this year that two organizations that help bio-tech businesses get started — BioEnterprise of Cleveland and Life Sciences Greenhouse in Pittsburgh — would start working together. The two congressmen hope to see that kind of cooperation extend to other industries.

The immediate goal of the conference was to give participants specific tasks that will help make the Tech Belt a reality. A follow up conference is planned for the Pittsburgh area.

Ryan said, ‘‘The success or failure will be directly related to our expectations. If we see this as impossible, it will be. If we expect it to succeed, it will.’’

[the_pines]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

Given the resources available, he said, the area needs to stop fearing China and starting competing to win the economic battle.

What is this suppose to mean? Ohio and Pennsylvania growing a backbone and generating homegrown industrial jobs again? Good luck with Clevelanders. They're some roughians and VERY hard headed people. I'm honestly not sure if that type of regionalism could even work. I know as an Ohioan I don't want Pa encroaching in to Ohio wether Ohio is down and out or thriving. The difference between the two states has widened over the years. Pa seems very typical of the mafioso east coaster types. Much of Ohio has been trying to get Cleveland to cool off with that stuff and be more hospitable to people. Quite frankly, I don't trust Pittsburgh either. Anytime someone wants to give you a hand they're up to something. . . What is Pa and Pittsburgh fascination with northeast Ohio? I would like to know what its really about. They seem to think of Youngstown as their own from the way people put it sometimes. But any Ohioan knows Youngstown is Ohio %100. I also would like to know why people from Pa move to Ohio but the opposite occurs much less often. Pennsylvania a little imbalanced upstairs? I read an article that said a Pittsburgh company tried to rip Cleveland tax-payers off for a billion dollars. I don't trust them as far as I can throw. This "strategy" seems like it could divide Ohio and you better not even think about it if that's what it will do. Pittsburgh is dog eat dog, I haven't known Ohio to be like that nearly as much. They're probably up to something. Maybe Pittsburgh fears a little payback if Ohio grows again. That folks, is why you shouldn't take advantage of others. Come together because aliens are invading or China is a super power is the oldest trick in the book. Where are the actions that would define such trust? Ten dollars says Pa has been relocating its child molesters to Ohio for many years.

[the_pines]

Anyway Cleveland's place is helping Toledo before Pittsburgh. And on top of that I would rather a turned around, upbeat and growing Ohio to help Detroit more than Pittsburgh. You fellas just stay over there across that "imaginary" line k. Its there for a reason. I would commit to helping Detroit before Pittsburgh. . . Cleveland is also the original Steel Valley. You don't see them playing on it.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by the_pines

Anyway Cleveland's place is helping Toledo before Pittsburgh. And on top of that I would rather a turned around, upbeat and growing Ohio to help Detroit more than Pittsburgh. You fellas just stay over there across that "imaginary" line k. Its there for a reason. I would commit to helping Detroit before Pittsburgh. . . Cleveland is also the original Steel Valley. You don't see them playing on it.

Cleveland, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh have growing tech based industries. Does Toledo, or any cities in line with Toledo and Cleveland, have this same growing tech industry? (I'm not asking because I think I know the answer, I really want to know) This proposed tech belt is simply a matter of connecting the dots (cities) to make a more powerful, singular entity.

[the_pines]

I doubt it. Toledo is more a trade city. Glass specifically. And making Cleveland/Youngstown/Pittsburgh a single entity would divide Ohio and create an entirely new state basically. Cleveland could connect with Columbus/Youngstown and be as well off without concerning itself with creating turmoil. Ohio doesn't need a bully city that tries to push the other cities around in politics and stuff like that. If anything Ohio should have transportation that goes from Cleveland to Toledo, to Youngstown, to Columbus, to Dayton, to Cincinnati. If Ohio had some form of high speed transportation linking Cleveland to our other cities Cleveland would boom. I'm thinking speed of sound underground cars.

Columbus is just as close to Cleveland as Pittsburgh, so is Toledo. I don't see any reason why Pittsburgh should get the nod in future planning. Pittsburgh has the quality institutions, history, population, and location. It seems like a natural fit. But intrastate planning is future proofing Ohio without creating regional rifts.

[boardmanite]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

John Austin of the Brookings Institution said in his opening remarks that the region already has considerable education, industrial and technological assets. For instance, he said of the top 100 universities in the world, 20 are in the area — more than in the Northeast high-tech corridor or on the West Coast.

Is this talking about the Cleveland-Pittsburgh area or the Midwest? Somehow I doubt that the Cleveland-Pittsburgh area has 20 of the top universities in the world.

Also, I believe Cleveland has much more in common with Youngstown and Pittsburgh than it does with Columbus, taking into consideration the cities' history, economy, demographics, politics, etc. So in that way, I would say it's a good idea for the three cities to work together.

But on the other hand, I can't help but think of it as a case of the blind leading the blind. Cleveland's economy is stagnant, populations are declining, and who do they look to for help? Pittsburgh, a city with the same problems, or even worse--Youngstown... So maybe I do agree with Pines, in that these cities should look to Columbus instead. Its economy is thriving, and maybe some of that growth could be channeled to places like Cleveland and Youngstown through regional cooperation.

[JR_C]

Don't look at the overall picture of the cities of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Youngstown.

Let's take a closer look at Youngstown. Turning Technologies, soon to be housed in the new Taft Technology Center, has grown 3,707.9% over the last 3 years! I understand there are other success stories coming out of the Business Incubator downtown.

I understand that Cleveland is having similar luck with tech businesses. I haven't heard anything about Pittsburgh, but this doesn't mean technology isn't booming there, too.