Brite Receives Grant Funds for New Position

WARREN, Ohio — Brite Energy Innovators will create a new position intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organization, Brite announced.

The new position, which is being funded initially by $25,000 from the Fund for Warren’s Future and matching funds from the Ohio Third Frontier program, will allow the energy incubator to accelerate product development and revenue generation through entrepreneurial services and its Brite Energy Lab.

“The rest will be covered by purchased services contracts to generate revenue to support the position and most importantly our nonprofit mission, to empower founders to launch energy technology solutions,” Rick Stockburger, Brite’s president and CEO said Tuesday morning. 

“We believe this strategic investment in Brite will accelerate the already significant impact they are having on Warren’s economy by bringing increasing numbers of high-tech businesses and professional people into the heart of the city,” said Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, a board member of the fund. 

The Fund for Warren’s Future was launched just over two years ago. So far it has made grants totaling $87,300.  

The specifics of the new Brite position still are being worked out, but it will be a hybrid between an entrepreneur-in-residence and a business development specialist, Stockburger said. The description for the full-time position hopefully will be posted by Friday. 

“BRITE is deeply committed to the success of the City of Warren,” he said. The money from the local and state funds “will assist us in generating revenue to sustain our organization and continue giving talented people an opportunity to work, and one day live, in downtown Warren,” Stockburger said. 

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