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Renewal of job-creating, technology program urged

Supporters tell business, government, academic leaders to promote the ballot issue.

Phil Parker, president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, addresses the importance of the Third Frontier technology funding during a program for Issue 1 held at the National Composite Center in Kettering Thursday, April 8.

Jan Underwood Phil Parker, president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, addresses the importance of the Third Frontier technology funding during a program for Issue 1 held at the National Composite Center in Kettering Thursday, April 8.

Jo Ann Davidson, former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and co-chair of the Issue 1 Campaign, discusses the need to vote for the Third Frontier funding program during a regional update held at the National Composite Center in Kettering Thursday, April 8.

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 11:15 PM Thursday, April 8, 2010

KETTERING — Supporters of Ohio’s technology-promoting Third Frontier program urged an array of business, academic and political leaders Thursday, April 8, to promote the program to voters who will decide on May 4 whether to extend it.

The meeting at the National Composite Center was the latest in a series of events around the state organized to promote Third Frontier as a job-creating machine that could lapse, unless its value is explained to voters who will decide whether to authorize issuing $700 million in new bonds to continue it.

The program requires private investments to at least match, if not exceed, the state’s support.

Leaders of technology companies including STAN Solutions, Dayton; Renegade Materials Corp., Springboro, and Mound Laser and Photonics Center, Miamisburg, told the crowd that Third Frontier support helped them to locate in the Dayton area and expand their development of technologies for military and civilian markets.

Robert Gray, chief scientist of Renegade Materials, said Third Frontier support had helped his advanced-materials technology company grow from $1 million in sales and five employees in 2008 to $3 million and 15 employees last year, with additional growth projected.

“All this started with Third Frontier money,” Gray said.

Although the program appears to have widespread support from universities and companies that have used it to expand research and development of technologies, some concerns have been raised about whether it benefits all Ohioans.

State Sen. Shirley Smith, D-Cleveland, has told Eric Fingerhut, chairman of the Third Frontier Commission, that she is concerned whether the program benefits minorities.

Fingerhut is working to address her concerns, Smith said in a telephone interview Thursday.

“I am very, very supportive of the Third Frontier conceptually,” Smith said. “What I would like to see happen ... is to make some improvements to it, and make it inclusive.”

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and Dayton Development Coalition sponsored the Third Frontier event Thursday.

Former Gov. Bob Taft, under whose administration the program was created in 2002, attended the event.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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