Ohio Local Business Digest
Archives
$25K Grant for Ohio Businesses (Apply by April 30)
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
$25K Grant for Ohio Businesses (Apply by April 30) |
 |
OHIO LOCAL BUSINESS DIGEST
Free Money for Ohio Businesses (Yes, Really)
Most Ohio business owners have no idea how much free money is available to them.
Grants. Tax credits. Incentives. Forgivable loans.
Here is what you qualify for - and how to get it.
💰 Grant #1: Ohio Small Business Relief Program
What it is: Grants up to $10,000 for qualifying Ohio small businesses
Who qualifies: • Ohio-based business • Fewer than 50 employees • Annual revenue under $5M
What you can use it for: Payroll, rent, utilities, equipment, marketing
How to apply: development.ohio.gov/relief
Deadline: Rolling (first-come, first-served)
Pro tip: Applications take 30 minutes. Awards happen in 2-4 weeks. Do not wait.
💰 Grant #2: JobsOhio Workforce Grant
What it is: Up to $500,000 for hiring and training Ohio workers
Who qualifies: • Ohio businesses creating new jobs • Manufacturing, tech, healthcare, logistics • Commitment to hire Ohio residents
What you can use it for: Recruiting, training, equipment for new hires
How to apply: jobsohio.com/workforce
Deadline: Quarterly reviews
Real example: Columbus manufacturing company got $150K to hire 25 workers. Grant covered training costs for all 25.
💰 Tax Credit: Ohio Research & Development Credit
What it is: 7% tax credit on R&D expenses
Who qualifies: Ohio businesses developing new products, processes, or software
What counts as R&D: • Developing new products • Improving existing products • Software development • Process improvements
How to claim it: Talk to your CPA (seriously, they handle this)
Pro tip: Most businesses qualify and do not even know it. Ask your accountant about this.
💰 Resource: Free SBDC Consulting
What it is: Free one-on-one business consulting
What they help with: • Business plans • Financial projections • Marketing strategies • Loan applications • Government contracts
Cost: $0 (100% free)
How to get it: ohiosbdc.org - find your local center, schedule appointment
Real story: Cleveland restaurant owner got free help writing a business plan. Used it to secure a $50K SBA loan. Zero cost for the consulting.
💰 Grant #5: City/County Programs
Many Ohio cities have their own small business grants:
Columbus: Micro-Enterprise Loan Fund (up to $25K) Cleveland: Small Business Loan Fund (up to $50K) Cincinnati: Minority Business Accelerator (up to $10K) Toledo: Downtown Business Grant (up to $5K) Akron: Storefront Renovation Grant (up to $15K)
How to find yours: Google [Your City] small business grants
📰 This Week in Ohio Business
• Ohio exports hit record high - $66 billion in 2026, up 18%
• Dayton ranked #2 for affordable startup cities - Low cost of living drives growth
• Cincinnati launches innovation district - 500+ tech jobs expected by 2028
💡 Action Step: Apply for ONE This Week
Do not try to apply for everything. Pick ONE grant or resource that fits your business.
Block 2 hours this week. Fill out the application. Submit it.
Worst case: They say no. Best case: Free money.
You miss 100% of the grants you do not apply for.
To your success,
Shawn Miller
P.S. Know of an Ohio grant program I missed? Reply and let me know! I will feature it in a future issue. |