Dayton looks for high-tech ideas

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A building has risen from the rubble at the future site of Tech Town. It's called the Dayton RFID Convergence Center, or RCC, and it will soon be home to a handful of new businesses focused on using Radio Frequency Identification technology.

RFID is already being used in passports, and as a way to identify missing pets using a chip that's injected into their skin, for example, but the Dayton RCC knows there are more uses for the technology.

"The idea is there are so many applications beyond this whether it's in retail, whether it's in pharmaceuticals or whether it's in the military," said Brad Proctor, Executive Director of the Dayton RCC. "Dayton is strategically positioned. 80 percent of the RFID world is located east of the Mississippi. We're in the perfect space."

The Dayton RCC is now taking applications for entrepreneurs who have ideas, but want a little help getting started. If accepted, the business can call the center home, and will get the guidance and tools it needs to succeed.

"We take the opportunity to meet with them. They actually are going through an application process where we understand what their technologies are, what they're trying to do, where they are in their product cycle and then we make sure that we can actually help them with the tools that we have to help accelerate their company," Proctor said.

Ten businesses will graduate from the program each year, and city leaders have put in place tax rebates and other incentives to encourage them to stay local when they do.

"The city has put some very powerful tools in place," said Proctor.

If the tools work, Dayton could become a high-tech hub.

You can apply for a space at the Dayton RCC through their website.