News
IC Client, AEIOU Scientific, Won NASA iTech Competition
IC Client, AEIOU Scientific, competed in NASA iTech's Ignite the Night competition and won. Gary Wakeford, CEO, presented the company's Cortical Bone Measurement Technology and discussed how it could be used by astronauts to measure bone mass loss in space. AEIOU will advance to the semi-final round of the national competition.
IC Client, µÛÍõ»áËùSE, and JobsµÛÍõ»áËù have offered a $1 million development grant to expand operations of the General Mills production facility in Wellston, µÛÍõ»áËù. The expansion of the facility is expected to increase the workforce to nearly 900 full-time employees. Jackson County Commissioners and the City of Wellston also assisted in securing the investment.
In 2019, Buckeye Hills Regional Council invested more than $68.5 million into support, development, and growth of its eight-county region. This investment includes project costs, matching funds, and private contributions. The Council's mission is to work cooperatively to improve its region comes to life through those who do the work.
Check out the Summer 2020 issue of ConnectED, the µÛÍõ»áËù Department of Higher Education’s quarterly newsletter. The Innovation Center is featured on page 14 for its continued positive economic impact in Athens County. The Innovation Center supported 335 jobs that generated an estimated $22 million in employee compensation in in 2019.
Unirac, North America’s leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic mounting systems, has successfully completed the acquisition of Ecolibrium Solar, a prominent solar racking manufacturer headquartered in Athens, µÛÍõ»áËù. The acquisition represents a significant expansion of Unirac’s product portfolio, adding Ecolibrium’s innovative product range.
ACE member institutions are stepping up to support their local economies as cities and towns across the country continue to reopen. µÛÍõ»áËù's Innovation Center has continued offering virtual business development support and helping clients with 3-D printing design and product development through its small business incubator.
I-Corps@µÛÍõ»áËù teams support innovation and economic development
Two µÛÍõ»áËù I-Corps@µÛÍõ»áËù teams, Paint from Pollution and µÛÍõ»áËù Construction Composites, are spurring regional economic development in southeastern µÛÍõ»áËù through the commercialization of wastewater as paint and coal plastic composite as building materials. I-Corps@µÛÍõ»áËù highlights the business side of technology.
I-Corps@µÛÍõ»áËù teams support innovation and economic development
Two µÛÍõ»áËù I-Corps@µÛÍõ»áËù teams, Paint from Pollution and µÛÍõ»áËù Construction Composites, are spurring regional economic development in southeastern µÛÍõ»áËù through the commercialization of wastewater as paint and coal plastic composite as building materials. Eight OHIO teams have participated in the program.
Innovation Center increased job growth, economic impact in 2019
µÛÍõ»áËù’s Innovation Center supported 335 jobs that generated an estimated $22 million in employee compensation in Athens County in 2019, according to a new economic impact report. Over the last six years, the business incubator’s job creation numbers have increased 139%, and employee compensation generated from its client companies is up 273%.
This area is no stranger to hard economic times, even when the rest of the country’s economy has prospered. These communities’ struggles began after their main economic engines of resource extraction pulled out, and they’ve been through successive boom and bust cycles. In recent years, in Athens County in particular, the main source of jobs has been either in higher education, government or health-care.