Toledo and northwest Ohio can generate 9,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact if designated a federal innovative hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a consortium of local industry and civic leaders said in a grant application.
In the grant, the partners have pledged to reduce carbon in their manufacturing processes and work toward tougher and more lightweight glass as a step toward a more environmentally friendly future, said Kyle Sword, R&D director for Toledo-based Pilkington North America.
In a tight, five-page application filed with the EDA last week, and shared with The Blade, the group known as the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium lays out why Toledo has the assets, vision, and need to be designated one of 20 cities in the United States as a tech hub.
The consortium also is pitching how to train more workers, both production and technical employees, for employers inside the consortium and out. Educational partners are the Toledo Public Schools, the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and Owens Community College.
The four local glassmaking members of the consortium are O-I, Libbey Inc., Owens Corning, and Pilkington North America.
O-I’s Mr. Smith said the grant would be used for worker training and recruitment as well as a variety of collaborative projects to advance glass manufacturing.
