Seven small businesses across Northwest Ohio received funding assistance in the first quarter of 2025 to help support their growing operations. The JobsOhio Small Business Grant provided funding to these projects in the amount of $225,000. Those dollars supported the creation of 16 new jobs and the retention of 80 jobs.

The companies, spread across the 17-county region, all received assistance for the program which provides support for projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state. The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) has aggressively marketed the program and helped facilitate grant assistance through JobsOhio to communities and businesses across Northwest Ohio.

Eligible businesses are defined as minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, located in a distressed community, or owned by an individual with a disability. The grant is intended for fixed-asset investment in machinery and equipment, training costs and real estate investments including redevelopment.

“The first quarter of 2025 was a tremendous success for the RGP region and companies in Northwest Ohio, with the help of the JobsOhio Small Business Grant. Strategic investments were made by seven companies across our key sectors, including food processing and agriculture, as well as advanced manufacturing. These projects will drive growth, innovation, and job creation to communities in Northwest Ohio.”

– Chase Eikenbary, VP of Project Management, Regional Growth Partnership

The Northwest Ohio Businesses receiving JobsOhio Small Business Grants are:

  • Beca House Coffee (Upper Sandusky)
    A coffee bean roasting company, this woman-owned business has experienced a 50% increase in demand and will use the funding to help purchase new equipment and upgrade the facility. The Wyandot County company is also located in a distressed area.

“We’ve loved growing our business right here in Upper Sandusky. This expansion gives us the opportunity to represent the community we cherish on a broader, regional scale,” said Steve Jackson, proprietor of Beca House Coffee, along with his wife and company owner, Heather Jackson. “A big thank you to JobsOhio for believing in our potential and supporting our journey forward.”

  • New American Reel Company (Antwerp)
    The Paulding County company manufactures plastic-based reels used for cable and shipping purposes. Located in a distressed zone, the company will use the grant dollars in purchasing a larger plate rolling machine to meet changing customer demand.
  • Roberts Manufacturing Company (Oakwood)
    The CNC machining and assembly company is experiencing increased demand which requires the purchase of updated machinery and equipment to create efficiencies and secure new clients. Based in Paulding County, the company is located in a distressed area.
  • L.J. Irving, Jr. & Sons (Napoleon)
    This woman-owned demolition and excavation company in Henry County is expanding its current capabilities requiring complete comprehensive services. The grant will help offset cost of new machinery and equipment to increase market share.
  • Graminex (Deshler)
    Exclusive grower and manufacturer of non-solvent Rye Grass Flower Pollen. Henry County company is experiencing increased market demand for flexible packaging and pouches. This woman-owned business needs new machinery and equipment for customer production needs.
  • Mater Dei Industries (Columbus Grove)
    Woman-owned global leader in the magnet plating industry, specializing in metal finishing services and metal plating on rare earth magnets. Allen County business will use funding to invest in new treatment systems and new service line for local customer base.
  • Red Horizon Engineering (Perrysburg)
    Wood County business is an engineering and fabrication company. Funding will support a new production contract from customer that will scale up client’s revenue by 50%. New M&E is necessary for this woman-owned business to keep up with demand.

Since the program’s inception in 2020, the RGP has helped facilitate 114 Small Business Grants across Northwest Ohio, leading to the creation of 445 new jobs, 2,313 retained jobs, and $3.6 million in grant funding.

Grant decisions for the program are based on several project factors, including but not limited to company location, company ownership, jobs created and/or retained, and project fixed-asset investment. Support is generally intended for small to medium-sized companies with eligible projects.

For more information about the program, visit https://rgp.org/jobsohio-small-business-grant/

About the Regional Growth Partnership
The Regional Growth Partnership is the lead economic development organization serving 17 counties in Northwest Ohio. As a private nonprofit development corporation, the RGP is dedicated to fostering regional, national and international business investment opportunities across the region. The RGP serves as Northwest Ohio’s network partner for JobsOhio. Visit www.rgp.org for more information.

About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.