By CHUCK SODER
11:20 am, May 25, 2011

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has awarded $2.9 million to a group developing solar technology as well as $642,000 to two internship programs in Northeast Ohio.
The money was part of $12 million the commission awarded through the Third Frontier program, an initiative designed to stimulate Ohio's economy through investments in technology.

The $2.9 million grant went to a group developing technology meant to help solar panels last longer. The group is led by Case Western Reserve University and also includes DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, Xunlight26 Solar, Q-Lab, eQED and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

Two internship programs in Northeast Ohio each received $321,000.

The Workforce Institute of Lorain County, located in Elyria, is a collaboration between Lorain County Community College, Baldwin-Wallace College, Stark State College of Technology, the University of Akron and several companies and organizations. The Workforce Initiative Association in Canton involves the Tuscarawas campus of Kent State University, the University of Akron and several private companies.

The commission on Tuesday also awarded $2 million to help Space Laboratory Associates of Cleveland attract the International Space Station National Laboratory to the city. More detail on that award is available here.