Huntington Donates $10K to Brite Energy to Support Startups

WARREN, Ohio – Huntington Bank has donated $10,000 to Brite Energy Innovators to support startups through its mentorship program.

Brite, located at 125 W. Market St., provides individualized one-on-one guidance from industry experts to assist new energy technology companies.

“We see a steady increase in inquiries for our services,” said Jing Lyon, Brite’s Entrepreneur Programs director. “To meet demand, collaborators such as Huntington Bank are critical for building our core programming such as BRITEbase, our accelerator, so that we can best utilize our growing network of mentors and partners.”

The donation will allow assistance to a cohort of startups, which will result in $250,000 in leveraged near-term public and private investment for solving sustainability and resiliency challenges, a news release states.

“Incubators like Brite Energy Innovators are critical to continuing growth in the Mahoning Valley and surrounding areas, and we see great opportunity in teaming up with an energy incubator,” said Sam Huston, community president in Mahoning Valley for Huntington. “Brite is a conduit for leading edge technologies, and we want to do all we can to help startups with their financing needs to foster growth and staying power in our communities.”

Pictured at top: From left, Julie Strickland, community development relationship manager; Rick Stockburger, president and CEO of Brite Energy Innovators; Sam Huston, community president in Mahoning Valley for Huntington Bank; and James Stallsmith, business banking relationship manager.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.