As part of Barberton Community Foundation’s strategic focus to improve workforce and career pathways for residents, it is playing an active role in the broader regional opportunity of polymer innovation and advanced manufacturing.
For more than a century, Northeast Ohio has been a center for the world’s polymer industry. It’s one of the country’s largest concentrations of polymer-related businesses today, with more than 1,400 such companies.
Now that legacy is the subject of a coordinated effort to position the region as a global leader in materials science, manufacturing and innovation.
This work is being driven through the Akron Polymer Industry Cluster and the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, a multi-sector collaboration supported by more than $80 million in state and federal investment – with the possibility of much more to come.
This is not the work of a single organization. It is a shared effort across business, education, government and philanthropy to build a connected system of talent, training, and industry growth.
The Foundation has ensured that Barberton is recognized as part of that system, with a representative who serves on the leadership committee of the Polymer Industry Cluster. This assures our community is represented in regional planning and positioned to participate in relevant investment and development opportunities.
That work is already having a local impact.
In 2024, the Foundation invested $125,000 to help launch Barberton City School District’s Polymer Pathway – a first-of-its-kind K–12 learning model designed to introduce students to science-based careers at an early age, and then build interest over time.
Students across grade levels are engaging with polymer-based learning; and interest in science, materials and manufacturing careers is growing. At Barberton High School, students can now take polymer-focused coursework with the opportunity to earn college credit – thus supporting the Foundation’s strategy to increase college enrollment among Barberton graduates while connecting classroom learning directly to real-world career pathways.
Together, these efforts reflect a broader discovery taking place across the region. Where industry demand, education and community investment intersect, new opportunities are emerging. By staying engaged, aligned and ready, Barberton Community Foundation is working to ensure the community is positioned to be part of what comes next.
