Governor Mike DeWine announced the approval of assistance for four projects set to create 683 new jobs and retain 405 jobs statewide. During its January meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $43.7 million in new payroll and spur more than $588 million in investments across Ohio.
To read about the projects, click here.
A total of $10 million in loan funding remains available to help minority- and women-owned businesses throughout Ohio grow and expand their operations. The Women's Business Enterprise Loan Program and Ohio Micro-Loan Program are priority initiatives of the DeWine-Husted administration and were included in the 2022-2023 operating budget, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly in June 2021.
In 2022, more than $9.34 million in loans were dispersed to more than 100 minority- and women-owned businesses through the programs. More than $4.6 million remains available through the Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program, and more than $6.5 million through the Ohio Micro-Loan Program.
The loans are administered by Development’s Minority Business Development Division. Information about the loans and other capital programs can be found online at Minority.Ohio.Gov. Start the loan application process here.
More blighted and vacant structures will be demolished to make room for new economic development through the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. A total of 599 additional structures in 15 counties will be demolished with support from the program, which was created by the DeWine administration to help local communities demolish dilapidated commercial and residential buildings.
The projects bring the total number of demolition projects funded through the program to 3,699 projects in 87 counties, including 825 projects announced in October and 2,275 projects awarded in early December. To read about the projects, click here.
Companies can apply now to hire interns to help them with their technology needs. The company application period for the Diversity & Inclusion Technology Internship Program opened Feb. 6 and closes March 3. The program connects businesses with the best and brightest upcoming talent to fill their tech needs. From creating mobile apps to building out websites, implementing new software, and enhancing cybersecurity, the program can help with virtually any tech need.
The Ohio Department of Development’s Third Frontier program will help pay the salary of college interns. Companies can hire up to four interns and be reimbursed up to $30,000. Internships for this round of the program are effective from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2023. Student recruitment for the program has been extended to Feb. 28. For more information and to apply, click here.
The Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program is undergoing a rebrand, but clients can be assured that the exceptional service will not change. The program became Ohio APEX Accelerators Feb. 1. The national procurement assistance program is under the management of the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, and the 95-plus centers nationwide, including the Ohio PTACs, will be rolling out a new name, logo, and branding throughout the next few months.
Although the name is changing, the mission remains the same. Ohio APEX Accelerators help Ohio businesses compete for and win federal, state, and local government contracts. The state office in the Ohio Department of Development and 11 regional offices across the state match businesses with contract opportunities, help them prepare bids and navigate requirements, and assist them after winning contracts. The services are provided at no cost to businesses. The overall impact of the Ohio program for year 2021-22 proved successful with 2,001 clients counseled, 11,822 awards received by clients, and more than $1.2 billion in contracts awarded to clients. To find out how your business can benefit from Ohio APEX Accelerator services, select this link.
TechCred will open its 19th round in March. Through 17 rounds, 2,173 Ohio employers have been approved for funding through the TechCred program, supporting the earning of 57,233 tech-focused credentials by employees. Results of the January round will be announced soon. The program helps businesses address their workforce needs by upskilling current and prospective employees. Businesses of all sizes, from any industry, are eligible for up to $30,000 per round and up to $180,000 per year.
Applications will open every other month in 2023:
For more information, visit TechCred.Ohio.gov.
Businesses looking for workers can find help at OhioMeansJobs.com. The website helps job seekers find work, and it also can help businesses find their next employee. The site now has more than 2.2 million resumes posted by people looking for a new job. In addition, the Employer page on the website provides other resources, such as tips on hiring veterans, people with disabilities, and restored citizens. The site currently has more than 228,000 jobs posted, including more than 137,000 that pay more than $50,000 per year. More than 5,600 internship opportunities also are available. To find the OhioMeansJobs center near you, visit OhioMeansJobs.com and select “FIND A JOB CENTER” at the bottom of the page or call 1-888-296-7541.