Supporting Minority-owned Businesses

The JobsOhio Small Business Grant provides financial support for projects in eligible communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state. Grant decisions 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 intended for small to medium-sized companies with annual revenues of up to $25 million.

Is Your Business Eligible?

Eligible companies must have been in operation for at least one year and be able to demonstrate $100,000 in annual revenues. Companies must be engaged in JobsOhio’s targeted industries and business functions. These industries include:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Automotive
  • Autonomous Mobility
  • Energy & Chemicals
  • Financial Services
  • Insurtech
  • Food & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Biomedical
  • Gene Therapy
  • Logistics & Distribution
  • Military & Federal
  • Technology
  • Cybersecurity

Ineligible projects and companies include retail or operations that include point-of-final-purchase transactions at a facility open to the public or other population driven businesses that derive most of their sales from in-person delivery of services or products.

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Grant Requirements

Businesses must meet one of the following criteria:

Business must be 51% owned by an underrepresented population

  • Minority-owned
  • Women-owned
  • Veteran-owned
  • Owned by an individual with a disability

Business located in a distressed community

  • Defined as index score of 50 or greater by the Economic Innovation Group

“The JobsOhio Small Business Grant has helped our company develop new production lines doubling our capacity. It is great to have a partner who is also willing to help invest in our community!”

– Justin Woodruff, General Manager, Sandy Creek Mining (Fostoria/Seneca County)

Project Definition

Projects require a commitment over time and will be defined by an appropriate combination of the following metrics: fixed asset investment, job and payroll creation, job and payroll retention, employees trained, and training costs.

Eligible Costs

The JobsOhio Small Business Grant is intended for fixed asset investment in machinery and equipment, and real estate investments including redevelopment, and training costs. These include:

  • Land
  • Building
  • Leasehold improvements
  • Machinery and equipment
  • Moving and relocation costs of machinery and equipment related to the project
  • Infrastructure
  • Site Development
  • Revitalization Costs including demolition, renovation, and environmental remediation
  • Fees and material costs related to planning and feasibility studies
  • Engineering services
  • Employee training costs
  • Information technology including hardware and industry-specific software

Ineligible Costs

  • Bonds or other debt instruments issued by the grantee to finance the completion of the site improvement project shall not be retired or serviced with grant funds
  • Administrative costs (including salaries and travel)
  • Rolling stock (anything registered with a government entity and/or travels on a public right of way)
  • Contributions/donations by the grantee to individuals or organizations
  • Costs resulting from violations of or failure to comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations
  • Food, drinks, entertainment
  • Goods and services for personal use by the grantee’s employees
  • Long-term housing and personal living expenses
  • Interest in borrowed money
  • Organized fundraising
  • Travel expenses
  • Taxes from which the grantee is normally exempt

A Game-Changing Grant

Last year alone, the JobsOhio Small Business Grant projects created more than 1,700 new jobs, retained 6,200 jobs and generated $135 million in capital investment

Disbursement of Funds

The JobsOhio Small Business Grant is reimbursement-based and requires supporting documentation including proof of payment. JobsOhio may consider alternatives to proof of payment at the time of reimbursement request under special circumstances and as approved by leadership.

Contact Us Today to Determine if Your Business Qualifies

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Name*
Company Address*

Key Contact

Chase Eikenbary

Vice President of Project Management
Regional Growth Partnership
eikenbary@rgp.org
419-722-4427