Ohio Business Resource Connection

Location: Columbus

The State of Ohio's Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program establishes an annual goal for state agencies, boards and commissions, as well as guidelines for state universities in awarding contracts to certified EDGE businesses. The EDGE program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services. 

Location: Statewide

The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) enables Ohioans who are legally blind to have entrepreneurial careers in food service management. These opportunities include the management of cafeterias, convenience stores, snack bars and vending in state, federal and interstate highway rest areas, where licensed operators have priority under the Randolph Sheppard Act and Ohio Revised Code. The BEP also has businesses at state universities, colleges and county buildings.

Location: Statewide

The State of Ohio’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program is designed to assist minority businesses in obtaining state government contracts for goods and services, unlike the Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program, the MBE program does not apply to construction contracts. Applicants must apply for certification through the Ohio Business Gateway.

Location: Columbus

Similar to the MBE program, the State of Ohio's Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program assists socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining state government contracts in the areas of construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services.  A business may qualify for EDGE Certification if its owner is socially and economically disadvantaged or the business is located in a qualified census tract and the owner is economically disadvantaged.

Location: Statewide

The Ohio Department of Development's Minority Business Development Division (MBDD) supports the growth and sustainability of small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio. Support provided includes business management counseling, technical and professional assistance, access to capital, surety bonding, and connection to business opportunities through the assistance of the Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC). 

Location: Statewide

The Ohio Development of Development Minority Business Development Division (MBDD) supports the growth and sustainability of small, minority and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio. Support is provided through technical and professional assistance, access to capital and bonding, and connection to business opportunities through the Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC). The Division works with entrepreneurs and emerging business enterprises to help them achieve scale and market success. 

Location: National

The Office of Government Contracting (GC), within the U.S. Small Business Administration, works to ensure that small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses have the highest possible participation in federal government contract awards and large prime subcontract awards.  

Location: National

The Office of Native American Affairs provides American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians that are looking to create, develop and expand small businesses with access to the necessary tools. Some of their outreach efforts include tribal consultations, development, and distribution of promotional materials, attendance, and participation in national economic development conferences.

Location: Statewide

The Minority Business Bonding Program provides bid, performance, and payment surety bonds to state-certified minority-owned businesses that are unable to obtain bonding through standard surety companies. To be eligible for this program, the project must be economically feasible; and the minority business must not have defaulted on a previous bond issued by the Ohio Department of Development. The maximum bonding line pre-qualification is $1 million per business. The business must demonstrate the benefit to Ohio residents by increasing employment opportunities.  

Location: Statewide

The Minority Business Direct Loan Program provides fixed, low-interest rate loans to certified minority-owned businesses that are purchasing or improving fixed assets resulting in creating new jobs for Ohioans. 

Location: Statewide

The Ohio Department of Development's Collateral Enhancement Program (CEP) is a state program that facilitates increased lending to small and minority-owned businesses who need access to capital for growth or expansion. The CEP is designed to enable financing that might otherwise be unavailable due to a collateral shortfall. The program supplies pledged cash collateral deposit accounts (or allocations for credit unions and certified development financial institutions) to lending institutions to enhance collateral coverage of individual small business loans.

Location: Statewide

The Ohio Capital Access Program (OCAP) is a loan portfolio insurance program (similar to a loan guarantee) that enables small businesses to obtain credit to help them grow and expand their businesses. Since 2002, the OCAP has assisted small businesses with their working capital and fixed asset financing needs. In OCAP, when a participating lender originates a loan, the lender and borrower combine to contribute a percentage of the loan (from 3 percent to 6 percent) into a reserve fund, held by the Lender. The Ohio Department of Development also sends a state contribution to the lender-held reserve fund. Each lender's total OCAP reserve fund is available to cover losses on any loan in the Lender's OCAP portfolio. OCAP loans are originated and serviced by the Lender. The Ohio Department of Development also uses funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to make contributions to the reserve fund.

Location: Cincinnati

The Minority Business Accelerator is a development initiative of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, focused on growing sizable minority firms. The Accelerator team works with minority-owned businesses by helping them identify and connect with local minority suppliers who can meet specific needs for products and services.  

Location: Statewide

The State of Ohio's Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VBE) Procurement program provides preference or bonus points to certified companies that compete to contract with the state to supply the goods or services it needs, including eligible construction services. In order to be eligible for certification, the applicant business must satisfy one of the following criteria: at least ten percent of its employees are veterans or on active service; at least fifty-one percent of the applicant business is owned by veterans or persons on active service; if the applicant business is a corporation fifty-one percent of which is not owned by veterans or persons on active service, at least fifty-one percent of the board of directors are veterans or persons on active service; or the business is certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business or a Veteran-Owned Small Business and the owner(s) of the business meets the definition of veteran as defined in Rule 123:5-1-01(II) of the Ohio Administrative Code.

Location: National

The Office of Veterans Business Development's (OVBD) seeks to provide and make known all available small business resources and programs for Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans, Reserve Component Members, and their dependents or survivors. OVBD is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s liaison with the veteran’s business community; providing numerous resources such as training, counseling, and mentorship as well as oversight of Federal procurement programs. 

Location: National

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP), a part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, provides Veterans with access to a host of resources. They provide eligible small business owners with interactive online resources that are pertinent to them. Additionally, VEP identifies financing resources, opportunities for growing a business, and many other resources relevant to the Veteran small business community. 

Location: National

The Office of Government Contracting (GC), within the U.S. Small Business Administration, works to ensure that small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses have the highest possible participation in federal government contract awards and large prime subcontract awards.  

Location: Nationwide (Columbus Chapter)

The mission of Veteran-led Bunker Labs is to support and convene military-connected entrepreneurs and small business owners. They accomplish this mission by facilitating an action-oriented, member-led network of entrepreneurs and small business owners, providing practical tools and resources, and highlighting inspirational stories that showcase the possibilities and accomplishments of the community.

Location: Flint, MI (Covers MI, OH, and IN)

The Veteran Business Outreach Center is an SBA-backed Veteran-led organization that assists Veterans, Active Duty, Guard and Reserve members with the formation and expansion of their business through training, workshops, mentoring & procurement at both the state and federal level.

Location: Nationwide

The Veterans and Military Business Owners Association is a non-profit veteran business trade association that promotes and assists Veteran Business Owners, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses and Military Business Owners. They do so by connecting their members with private corporations and government agencies. They provide networking, collaboration, mentoring, education, certification and advocacy.

Location: Nationwide

The mission of the VA Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization is to enable Veterans to gain access to economic opportunities by developing policies and programs, informed by customer feedback, that improve market research, increase direct access, and maximize the participation of procurement ready Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses in federal contracting.

Location: Nationwide

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association is an independent nonprofit organization with a mission of creating corporate contracting opportunities for America’s Veteran’s and Service-Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprises through certification, advocacy, outreach, recognition and education.

Location: Columbus

The State of Ohio's Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program establishes an annual goal for state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as guidelines for state universities in awarding contracts to certified EDGE businesses. The EDGE program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services.

Location: Statewide

The Women’s Business Centers of Ohio (WBC) are located in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. As the only SBA-funded Women’s Business Centers in the state, WBC provides a host of resources. Some of these include an online resource library, computer lab, business coaching, and access to small business loans through ECDI. 

Location: Statewide

The Women’s Business Centers of Ohio (WBC) are located in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. As the only SBA-funded Women’s Business Centers in the state, WBC provides a host of resources including access to a resource library, business coaching, networking and access to small business loans. 

Location: National

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of woman-owned businesses in the United States. WBENC provides certification, opportunities, resources and engagement to a business that is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Some of these services include education and grants, campaigns to support woman-owned businesses, networking opportunities, and WBENC hosted events.

Location: National

The Office of Women’s Business Ownership’s (OWBO) seeks to enable and empower women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and support. Through OWBO, women business owners-- especially women who are economically or socially disadvantaged-- are provided with resources such as comprehensive training and counseling, access to credit and capital, marketing opportunities, and opportunities with federal contracts. 

Location: National

The Office of Government Contracting (GC), within the U.S. Small Business Administration, works to ensure that small, disadvantaged, and woman-owned businesses have the highest possible participation in federal government contract awards and large prime subcontract awards. 

Location: Cincinnati

Aviatra Accelerators is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on helping women across Ohio start, maintain, and grow their businesses. Aviatra offers a three-phased education approach, designed to fit your business’ needs. Their clients range from first-time entrepreneurs to seasoned business owners looking to expand and grow their enterprise.

Location: Chapters in Columbus and Cleveland

Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) serves as a voice of America’s more than 10 million woman-owned businesses. NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries. NAWBO provides numerous opportunities, some of which include: providing resources and referrals that aim to expand their reach and promote businesses’ success, access to NAWBO’s user-generated articles library, access to NAWBO’s Membership Directory connecting members to meaningful conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, important public policy issues, as well as chapter happenings and tips on achieving work-life balance, and other membership tips, tools and benefits. 

Location: Statewide

The State of Ohio’s Women Business Enterprise (WBE) program is designed to assist women-owned businesses in obtaining contracts for goods and services, construction, architecture, engineering, information technology, and professional services. Ohio WBE-certified program participants are eligible for contract assistance, management, and technical assistance.