JobsOhio Small Business Grant
Funding for real estate investments, equipment, and more, so you can grow your business
The JobsOhio Small Business Grant was developed to provide additional financial support for qualified projects in designated communities and/or for businesses owned by eligible populations across the state. The program recognizes that eligible communities may benefit from investments and job creation on a smaller scale than communities that experience higher levels of corporate investment on a regular basis. Additionally, this program recognizes that businesses owned by eligible populations may face additional challenges in growing their businesses.
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.
Your project could be eligible if you meet at least one of the following two requirements:
1. At least 51% of the business is owned, managed and controlled by an eligible population as defined by JobsOhio. Eligible populations includes consideration of geographic location, race, ethnicity, gender, veterans, and disabled. Racial or ethnic makeup includes African American, Hispanic, Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. Women-owned, Veteran-owned and Disabled-owned business must be either certified as such or otherwise be able to verify.
2. The project is located in a distressed community as defined by the Economic Innovation Group, Distressed Communities zip code Index map. Use the below zip code look-up tool to find out, and if your zip code isn’t listed, reach out to your JobsOhio Network partner to check.
FIND OUT IF YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN An Eligible ZIP CODE
If you meet one or both of the above requirements, keep reading below to learn more about the grant and how to apply.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
- Annual revenues are between $100,000 and $25 million.
- Receive a portion of sales from B2B transactions.
- Operate within one of JobsOhio’s 10 target industries.
- At least one year of operating history.
- Company payroll and/or employment will increase at least 10% as a result of the project.
- Project is financially feasible based on required investments and company financial standing.
- Retail operations and most professional services are not eligible.