Press Releases

DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) held a press conference at the University of Dayton’s Arcade Innovation Hub with Scott Koorndyk, President of the Entrepreneurs’ Center, Dayton’s City Manager, Shelley Dickstein, and Trevor Collier, Dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton. In Fiscal Year 2022, Congressman Turner secured $3 million in congressional Community Project Funding to help finish the south portion of the arcade complex. The funds specifically come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“The Dayton Arcade’s Innovation Center is a beautiful building, and it inspires people as they look to the history that has been here and what they can accomplish for the future,” said Congressman Mike Turner. “I’m very proud to have been able to secure $3 million of federal funding that assisted in the accomplishment of the renovation of this building. This building has had a number of components come together and has been a great accomplishment of local, county, state, and federal financing. Our institutions have come together to make the saving of this building in this area possible, and I’m glad to be a part of that.”

“Congressman Turner delivered critically needed federal resources that enabled our team to complete construction on the third floor of this facility, which allowed us to fully complete the Arcade Innovation Hub and gives us the ability to serve dozens of additional companies each year,” said Scott Koorndyk, President of the Entrepreneurs’ Center. “This ecosystem provides guidance, support, and a home for entrepreneurs in all sectors of our community, and Mike Turner’s leadership and ongoing commitment have made a real difference.” 

“It’s truly a pleasure to celebrate this amazing space. Congressman Turner, without your help and your assistance, this would have never happened,” said Shelley Dickstein, City Manager of Dayton. “As Scott Koorndyk said, this space initially was dark. And by working with Congressman Turner, we were able to secure the earmark funding to actually make this space happen; most importantly, to help it generate the revenue necessary for this space to continue and be sustainable.”

“On behalf of the University of Dayton, I want to thank Congressman Turner for your support and advocacy and Mayor Mims and City Manager Dickstein for their efforts in completing the Hub,” said Trevor Collier, Dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton. “The Hub, in general, and this third floor in particular, generate numerous benefits for UD students. The vision for this space was to create a multidisciplinary space where students from UD and entrepreneurs from the community can come together, collide, collaborate, and create an immersive space at the center of our region’s startup ecosystem.”

Background:

In Fiscal Year 2022, Congressman Turner secured $3 million in “Community Project Funding” for the Dayton Arcade. The recipient of the funds is the City of Dayton, and the money specifically comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In July 2023, Congressman Turner called HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, encouraging the department to execute the grant agreements and fund the FY22 projects.

Since the call, the City of Dayton has received its grant for $3 million. 

The funding will be used for the additional design, demolition, and renovation of the historic Arcade to create more office space, a state-of-the-art, fully equipped kitchen for food entrepreneurs, an art studio, business spaces and event spaces open to the community.  

The Dayton Arcade was originally constructed between 1902 and 1904. It is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in downtown Dayton and has been central to downtown life for over a century.

Congressman Turner tours a separate initiative at the Arcade.

Congressman Turner with 6888 Kitchen Incubator founders: Jamaica White, Dabriah Rice, and Charlynda Scales, as well as Marya Rutherford-Long.