David Sweet, president, YSU
We are sitting in the middle of a Midwest Tech Belt.
I know we’re interested in seeing our congress investing in opportunity even if we’re not interested in bridges to nowhere.
Congressman Tim Ryan a champion for region and YSU. Steered 10 mil to university initiatives. Transportation and materials engineering center 2 mil grant that requires strat and moving quickly which requires support of congressman. We’re interested in lowering that state (OH-PA) boundary i.e. lowering out of state tuition between the two states.
You community organizers are doing the work to move our communities forward. Our idea is to work with Bioenterprise in Cleveland and Pittsburgh’s Medical Center and lifescience spin offs.
To draw’s investment to this mega region. And all the communities have tried to ge separate way and it hasn’t worked out that well. Recognize political boundaries don’t matter as much when you visit China and 1.2 billion people. Niles my hometown is trying to compete against that. How do we pool our region’s resources to make sure we all get lifted up in next boom of economy. As we see the bad news of economy its time to piece together this movement we need to be viral and organic so that when there is another boom and there will be we need to get people to start talking together and coordng ing econ deev and looking at similar opp and rebranding it to one that is leading the charge in the new economy. Congressman Altmire get it. This is something we both feel very strongly about this. Just think about what R&D institutions University of Pittsburgh case Akron canoton liquid crystal Youngstown stem cell and transportation. You have great sports, art museums (Butler) bike trails, urban parks and a cost of living that people can afford. Lot of opp to rebrand ourselves for success. Look at Biosciences – phenol opp to pull in private investment. And to plug into green economy. This isn’t some liberal tree hugging that might be part of it yeah, but to lift up the manufacturing sector so that we make things again in this country, and coordinate these efforts. Coordinated on CD, education, this has to push forward from every place in community.
We had the highest per capital income in the country at one point and we can have that again. It’s about having a positive impact moving forward leadership how do you rebuild your community. They will look at the Tech Belt paper that we’ll write. We want to work on a coordinated way with you (community organizers)
Congressman Jason Altmire (Pittsburgh)– not my district but important to me
Pitts and Cleve 2nd and 3rd largest philanthropic cities behind NYC.
How do we retrain people in manufacturing. When think of research triangle in NC no reason it can’t be us to combine our assets to compete with each other. We’re not competeing against each other or Columbus anymore. We’re competing against Shanghai
There has to be a tangible link between our regions. One thing we’re looking at is a Cleveland to Pittsburgh high speed rail corridor (spontaineous applause). Connect airports to downtowns (Youngstown will benefit from that). Senate didn’t act on that bill last year but I have a feeling that we’re going to see it again and have more of this thinking. Maybe Steelers and Browns. But we’re starting to do it - Reciprocity in educational arena. I believe strongly in this bc we can really put this region on the map. Look at Energy Independence – can’t make same mistake from ‘70s where sigh of relief. NO one has planted the flag in this arena – we’re the Saudi Arabia of Coal, we have huge natural gas reserves. It can be us. In the Pittsburgh area that can be what the steel industry was. I doesn’t stop here – let’s continue to work on this.
Our cities infrastructure need to be redone – I think will be comprehensive transportation philosophy not only on high speed rail but on curbing sprawl. Transportation to connect these regions with high speed rail will create info exchange happens more easily.
Over 1,000 structurally difficient bridges. Smaller scale WPA project so we have more impact for economic stimulus – we’re pushing for that . Had great dinner with Senator Brown and Senator Casey – they’re extremely engaged in what this is.
Alternative energy – what about converting waste into energy? Food based ethanol doesn’t work the way we want it (30% of corn goes to it and away from food) – swithcgrass algae could be waste that’s used for food.
