2012
Zach & Chris meet on an international 3 day bus competition, StartupBus. The two explored several innovative communities throughout the U.S.
![StartupBus_inside_bus (1) StartupBus_inside_bus (1)](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/StartupBus_inside_bus-1-ovwgs5c35i54huivcrqv5mnzkh3lvww11lcuw1vs4s.jpg)
![kirk-schuring-640×400 kirk-schuring-640x400](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/kirk-schuring-640x400-1-ovwgtoskcq91iuabcxpuqqo6m7i9i206x7ui7dljxo.jpg)
Zach takes Brookings Institute Report on Innovation Districts to, then, Ohio Rep. Kirk Schuring.
2014
2016
Ohio House Bill 233 Passes, authorizing the creation of downtown redevelopment innovation districts.
![IMG_20200903_150446 IMG_20200903_150446](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/IMG_20200903_150446-scaled-ouxpvfrknrr8yf1qr4tm1h6g6hlhy45gaddzfobx9o.jpg)
![SUS_InnvovationDistrict SUS_InnvovationDistrict](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/SUS_InnvovationDistrict-1-ouxt14cv8fdp4lx0x9v8lsfem59mw9gr91u2yfrsq4.jpg)
Canton finds support from JumpStart in an initiative to create the first Innovation District in Ohio. startupSTARK is founded.
2018
2019
startupSTARK is approved for non-profit status, continues work in the community, and aims to increase impact throughout NEO.
![AW_JobFair_3 AW_JobFair_3](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/AW_JobFair_3-1-ouxt11jcnx9u5s14dqncwb50tznj965k8nvmilvz8s.jpg)
![IMG_20200624_114429 IMG_20200624_114429](https://startupstark.org/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/IMG_20200624_114429-scaled-ovxta7d8hed158a2m0h5dinskl0db1m23rq8syzju4.jpg)
startupSTARK completes office space renovation in Spring 2020 welcoming three new tenants to the refreshed workspace.