Rep. Sykes Announces $3 Million Federal Grant to Support the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub
AKRON, OH — Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the Greater Akron Chamber will receive a $3 million federal grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge. This $3 million award will be matched by local funds, which will further the Advanced Polymer and Manufacturing Excellence workforce training program to support the region’s polymers industry.
“Ohio’s 13th Congressional District has long been a trailblazer in polymer science and polymer engineering. I’m thrilled that the Greater Akron Chamber will receive $3 million in federal funds, thanks to the historic CHIPS and Science Act, in addition to another $3 million matched by local funds. These funds will help further the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub by ensuring that we have a strong workforce to meet the demands of the growing polymers field. I’m proud to have worked with our local and federal stakeholders to bring these vital funds back to our district to create good-paying jobs and grow our local economy. This investment will ensure Northeast Ohio remains a global leader and trailblazer in polymer science and polymer engineering, reaffirming our district’s legacy as the Rubber Capital of the World. From sustainable tires to cutting-edge polymers, the next generation of rubber and plastics production will proudly be made here in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District,” said Rep. Sykes.
“Northeast Ohio’s historical position as a leader in the polymer and manufacturing industry, coupled with our federal designation as the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub of the United States, solidifies the power of collaboration that exists within the industry in our region,” said Steve Millard, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. “The outcomes of the APEX workforce initiative are crucial to ensuring we are equipping our region’s employers with a strong pipeline of trained individuals, and, in turn, these individuals are being placed into ‘Good Jobs’. And big picture, the outcomes are crucial to maintaining our global competitiveness and will support our efforts to drive global innovation in the polymer industry to further impact and shape the global, and local, economy. We are grateful to have the ongoing support of Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, our partners, polymer industry companies, and other economic development stakeholders to further advance the work of Northeast Ohio’s polymer industry.”
The program will create accessible career pathways in the polymer sector by leveraging a partnership of employers, educational institutions, industry labs, and community and labor organizations to design and implement sector strategies for training and placing workers into good jobs. This project will advance the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, which EDA designated as a Tech Hub in 2023.
In September, Rep. Sykes wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce to support the Good Jobs Challenge proposal submitted by the Greater Akron Chamber. The initiative will address the significant skills gap within the polymer manufacturing sector, enabling the region to fully leverage its capabilities by creating equitable career pathways across the polymer value chain. It will support the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub by recruiting, training, upskilling, supporting, and placing workers in polymer industry careers. While primarily targeting Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties, the initiative also aims to impact surrounding Northeast Ohio counties.
Rep. Sykes led the charge to bring a Tech Hub to Northeast Ohio from the very beginning. In August 2023, Rep. Sykes sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castiillo in support of the Greater Akron Chamber’s application for funding under the EDA’s first phase of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act.
After the EDA announced the Akron Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country, Rep. Sykes penned a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and the Economic Development Administration in support of Akron’s Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub Phase 2 application. Rep. Sykes also joined a separate letter in support of Akron’s application with members of the Ohio delegation, including Sen. Sherrod Brown, U.S. Representatives Max Miller (R-OH-07), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), and David Joyce (R-OH-14)