A hub of clean technology industry is what Congressman Tim Ryan said he hopes a new collaboration will bring to the Valley.
Ryan, along with officials from Youngstown State University, gathered on campus Sunday to reveal plans to form an Ohio Clean Technologies Group. The collaboration of M-7 Technologies and Applied Systems and Technology Transfer will work together in the effort to provide a catalyst for new industry in the area.
The announcement coincides with the kick-off of YSU's second annual Sustainable Energy Forum.
"We've made it a point over the past 8 years to get money for research and development through the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Math] college here," Ryan said. "Research, chemistry, the whole nine yards. All of this is leading to business creation, job creation and manufacturing. So our plans are working, but not as fast as anyone wants them to. But we're moving in the right direction and I think we've turned a corner."
As part of the event Sunday, the movie "11th Hour" was shown.
The feature, narrated by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, highlights the series of events that has led to the focus on cleaner technologies.
