The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant is a financial assistance program that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within Ohio's workforce. The grant is provided by JobsOhio, a non-profit corporation created by the state of Ohio to drive job creation and economic growth. Aventi Enterprises has partnered with One Columbus to help identify businesses for this grant.
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant provides financial support for eligible projects in distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations like minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities 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.
The Inclusion Grant is intended to support businesses and organizations committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Eligible applicants include small and medium-sized businesses located in Ohio. To be eligible, companies must have been in operation for at least one (1) year and be able to demonstrate $100,000 in annual revenues. They must meet at least one of the following criteria for consideration:
The company is owned by an underrepresented population, including:
Minority-owned (African American, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific and Native American)
Women-owned
Veteran-owned
Owned by an individual with a disability
The business must either be certified by a recognized state or national organization or otherwise able to verify that at least 51% of the business is owned, managed, and controlled by the underrepresented population.
The business is located in a qualified distressed community as defined by an index score of 50 or greater by the Economic Innovation Group.
Business must be engaged in JobsOhio’s targeted industries and business functions. These industries include: Advanced Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing, Aerospace & Aviation, Automotive, Autonomous Mobility, Energy & Chemicals, Financial Services, Insurtech, Food & Agribusiness, Healthcare & Biomedical, Gene Therapy, Logistics & Distribution, Military & Federal, Technology, and Cybersecurity.
Additionally, they must demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and must have a plan in place to increase diversity and inclusion within their workforce. The grant is competitive and only a limited number of grants will be awarded each year.
The grant targets fixed asset investment in machinery and equipment, real estate investments including redevelopment, and training costs. These may 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
Environmental remediation, fees and material costs related to planning and feasibility studies, engineering services, employee training costs, and information technology including hardware and industry-specific software.
The partnership between Aventi Enterprises and One Columbus provides an opportunity for additional funding for minority-owned businesses that are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
The Jobs Ohio Inclusion Grant is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations in Ohio to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce. It is a positive step taken by the state of Ohio towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society. It's an initiative that will not only benefit the companies and organizations that are awarded the grant but also the state as a whole. The partnership between Aventi Enterprises and One Columbus provides a lucrative opportunity for Ohio businesses.
If you would like to move forward, click here to submit an Interest Form