Supporters of the Ohio Third Frontier program claim it's created nearly 55,000 high tech jobs since its 2002 inception, and has involved more than 600 businesses.
Continuing to publicize the benefits of Third Frontier, Governor Strickland helped roll out of the state's fifth Center Of Excellence - this one at the University of Akron, to focus on Advanced Materials and Sensors.
GOVERNOR TED STRICKLAND
"With the Third Frontier and our universities, Ohio is staking a claim on a future in which we sit squarely in the center of the design, the development, and the production - of innovation."
Akron joins Kent State, Ohio State, Cincinnati and Case as Centers of Excellence hosts.
Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut says the "centers of excellence" designation raises the quality of Ohio's public AND Private schools.
CHANCELLOR ERIC FINGERHUT:
"If Ohio can boast of 13 distinct universities, collaborating to help build each others strengths, while competing globally to bring talented resources to the state, then the state will enjoy the economic benefits that flow from a world class system"
Through research grants, Akron and other high tech centers tap into Ohio's Third Frontier fund to attract other private investment dollars for new product development.
Strickland and many others are pushing to extend Third Frontier an additional four years and 700 million dollars through Issue One; which goes to voters for approval on the May 4th ballot.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
