NAWBO Columbus Candidate Forum Puts Small Business Issues in the Spotlight
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Access to capital, government contracts, childcare, healthcare costs and the growing impact of data centers were among the issues discussed as candidates for state and federal office gathered for the NAWBO Columbus Candidate Forum. Hosted by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Columbus on October 1, 2026 at Franklin University, the forum provided women business owners and community members an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about policies affecting businesses, families, and Ohio's economy.
The discussion was moderated by Tonisha Johnson, an Emmy award-winning journalist, news anchor, and Founder of L.E.A.P.S. Dream House, LLC. Johnson has nearly two decades of broadcast journalism experience covering issues including politics and education. At the forum, Johnson interviewed 15 candidates in 3-minute sprints to highlight the candidates' views of issues concerning local women business owners in Central Ohio.
Capital, Contracts and Business Growth Take Center Stage
Access to capital emerged as one of the strongest themes of the forum. Michele Reynolds, candidate for Ohio Senate District 3, identified three significant barriers facing women entrepreneurs: capital, contracts and capacity. A third-generation business owner and nonprofit leader, Reynolds also discussed the role government can play in addressing healthcare and childcare costs for working families and small businesses.
Joel Greff, candidate for Ohio House District 1, shared his own experience as a business owner being denied an ECDI loan. Greff called for greater access to capital while also emphasizing the need for guardrails and accountability in how business funding is distributed. Mark Sigrist, candidate for Ohio House District 10, also raised concerns about credit availability and the challenges faced by growing companies that have graduated out of traditional small-business assistance programs but still need resources to continue scaling.
Contracts and market access were another focus. Charity Martin-King, candidate for Ohio House District 2, encouraged greater collaboration between rural and urban businesses and suggested businesses look beyond their ZIP codes and work collectively to reduce costs and expand opportunities.
Don Leonard, candidate for U.S. House District 15, discussed strengthening the Small Business Administration, while Bill Mercier, candidate for Ohio House District 7, emphasized creating more opportunities for small businesses. Dontavius Jarrells, candidate for Ohio House District 1, spoke about investment, employment, removing policies that can stand in the way of growth, and supporting programs that help businesses succeed.
Childcare and Healthcare Are Economic Issues
Candidates also connected childcare and healthcare to workforce and business growth. Crystal Lett, candidate for Ohio House District 11, shared her experience navigating childcare for a son with a disability. Reynolds discussed childcare legislation passed this year and the possibility of the state co-investing with small businesses to address healthcare costs.
Bill DeMora, candidate for Ohio Senate District 25, raised concerns about the lack of incentives for home-care providers, while Sigrist identified childcare as a critical issue for households that depend on multiple incomes.
Data Centers Spark Debate
The rapid expansion of data centers in Ohio produced some of the forum's sharpest policy differences. Stacie Baker, candidate for Ohio Senate District 3, called for a moratorium on data centers. DeMora questioned whether Ohio should be paying companies to locate data centers in the state when Ohio already has valuable resources they need, including land and water. Reynolds similarly argued that communities should receive clearly defined benefits when developments consume significant local resources.
Mercier offered a different perspective, saying Ohio should not fear data centers but instead clearly define them and establish appropriate regulations and accountability.
Christine Cockley, candidate for Ohio House District 6, also questioned broader state spending priorities, suggesting more resources could be directed toward supporting small businesses rather than large development projects.
Other forum participants included Cleophus Dulaney, U.S. House District 3; Kelly Hunter-Kaladigis, Ohio House District 8; Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, Ohio House District 4; and Matthew Jackson, Ohio House District 6.
Election Day Is November 3
Ohio's 2026 General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The voter-registration deadline is October 5, and early in-person voting begins October 6.
Voters are encouraged to research candidates, review their sample ballot and verify voting information before Election Day. Official election and voting information is available through the Ohio Secretary of State's Elections website. Voters can also access official sample-ballot information through the Secretary of State.
Decisions made in government can directly affect the ability of businesses to access capital, secure contracts, hire employees and grow. Aventi Enterprises is committed to helping businesses navigate those opportunities and build stronger pathways to contract growth. As Aventi works toward its goal of helping businesses secure $100 million in contracts by 2030, we will continue to support conversations that strengthen connections among businesses, buyers, policymakers and the broader economic-development ecosystem.
For more information about Aventi Enterprises, visit www.aventienterprises.com.
Photos from the NAWBO Columbus Candidate Forum 2026
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