Central Ohio Today

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced the groundbreaking of a new Impact Lab at the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty. Husted emphasized that the facility will be world-class, drawing investments and creating jobs while ensuring Ohio remains a leader in testing cutting-edge vehicle technologies.

“TRC in East Liberty has broken ground on a state-of-the-art, 66,000-sq-ft Impact Lab that will advance automotive research and highway safety!” Husted wrote in an Oct. 10 social media post on X.

According to a press release, the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty, Ohio, has begun construction on a new 66,000-square-foot Impact Laboratory, made possible by a $24 million state grant. The lab will enhance TRC's vehicle testing capabilities, particularly for electric and autonomous vehicles, with advanced technology such as robotic cameras and sensors.

"Why this is important is because it will allow this facility to remain a federally approved testing site to do research and testing on the top safety equipment that is being incorporated into our automobiles," Husted said. "So this site will be world-class, there'll be no place in the world better than this to test new technologies on automobiles for safety standards and through this new investment it will continue to draw investments from companies like Honda who've invested billions of dollars in the state of Ohio over the lifetime of the company and continue to draw research and development with Ohio State to continue to make local investments, continue to create manufacturing jobs and also technology jobs. So this investment today is going to flow through the entire economy by making this a world-class technology."

Expected to be completed in three years, the Impact Lab is poised to continue TRC's legacy of highway safety innovations, ensuring the state remains at the forefront of automotive technology and research for years to come.

According to his official bio page, Jon Husted was adopted and raised in Northwest Ohio's Williams County. He grew up with a strong foundation in faith, family, and hard work. After excelling as an All-American defensive back and earning advanced degrees from the University of Dayton, Husted contributed to economic development as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce.

Husted's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by significant improvements in business processes, including reducing start-up costs and eliminating office fees, saving taxpayers millions. As House Speaker, he championed Ohio’s most conservative budget in decades with a historic income tax cut. Elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Husted continues to balance his public service with his roles as a husband to his wife Tina and father to their three children.