Resource List – 105 Programs for Manufacturers

Oct 4, 2024 | Programs

On this Manufacturing Day 2024 (read more), we thought we would share 105 program ideas economic developers could use to support their existing manufacturers. Some of the entries also link to lists with specific organizations administering a program (more than 50 additional resources). This list does also not claim to be all-inclusive, and a number of programs have been left off for various reasons. We hope to periodically update this list. Please note the following abbreviations for geographic areas that coincide with JobsOhio regions: C = Central Ohio; E = Eastern Ohio (aka Lake to River); NE = Northeast; NW = Northwest; SE = Southeast; SW = Southwest; W = West. Here are the major categories of programs listed here:

  • Assistance & Technical Centers
  • Industry Associations & Partnerships
  • Workforce Programs
  • Incentives & Funding

Assistance & Technical Centers

  1. State – Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Read more.
  2. Regional MEP – C | MEP at Columbus State. Read more.
  3. Regional MEP – NE | MAGNET. Read more.
  4. Regional MEP – NW | CIFT. Read more.
  5. Regional MEP – SE | OSU South Centers MEP. Read more.
  6. Regional MEP – SW | TechSolve. Read more.
  7. Regional MEP – W | Fastlane at UDRI. Read more.
  8. State – Edison Welding Institute. Read more.
  9. State – Ohio Manufacturing Institute (at OSU). Read more.
  10. State – America Makes. Read more.
  11. State Network – Apex Accelerators (11). Read more.
  12. State Network – Entrepreneurial Service Providers (5). Read more.
  13. State Network – Export Assistance Network (7). Read more.
  14. State Network – Minority Business Assistance Centers (7). Read more.
  15. State Network – Small Business Development Centers (25+). Read more.
  16. State – Ohio Employee Ownership Center. Read more.
  17. Local – Chambers of Commerce (300+ in Ohio). (N/A – Google search your area).

Industry Associations & Partnerships

  1. State – Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. Read more.
  2. Regional – C | Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership. Read more.
  3. Regional – E | Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition. Read more.
  4. Regional – NE | Manufacturing Works. Read more.
  5. Regional – NE | ConxusNEO. Read more.
  6. Regional – NE | Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership. Read more.
  7. Regional – NE & C | Regional Manufacturing Coalition. Read more.
  8. Regional – NW | Center to Advance Manufacturing. Read more.
  9. Regional – NW | West Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership. Read more.
  10. Regional – NW | Advanced Manufacturing Consortium. Read more.
  11. Regional – NW | Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance. Read more.
  12. Regional – NW | Great Lakes Industry Sector Partnership. Read more.
  13. Regional – NW & C | North Central Ohio Region Industry Manufacturers Workforce Alliance. Read more.
  14. Regional – SE | Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition. Read more.
  15. Regional – SE | BESTOhio. Read more.
  16. Regional – SW | Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership. Read more.
  17. Regional – W | Dayton Regional Manufacturers Association. Read more.
  18. State – Ohio Life Sciences. Read more.
  19. State – Ohio Aerospace Institute. Read more.
  20. Local Manufacturing Councils. Example (Seneca Regional Chamber Industrial Management Council).

Workforce Programs

  1. Association (25 Ohio Chapters) – Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Read more.
  2. Internship Funding – College Technology Internship Program. Read more.
  3. Internship Funding – Export Internship Program. Read more.
  4. Internship Funding – Ohio MEP High School Internship Program. Read more.
  5. Recruitment – ApprenticeOhio (Registered Apprenticeships). Read more.
  6. Recruitment – County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.
  7. Recruitment – JobsOhio Talent Acquisition Services. Read more.
  8. Recruitment – Local Job Fairs.
  9. Recruitment – OMJ (OhioMeansJobs) Job Posting & Resume Searches. Read more.
  10. Recruitment – Regional Job Sites (e.g., Hometown Opportunity. Learn more.)
  11. Research – Ohio LMI Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics. Learn more.
  12. Research – Wage & Benefits Surveys (Local/Regional). Example (Sandusky/Seneca).
  13. Services – Local Workforce Development Team (OMJ). Example (Seneca).
  14. Services – Rapid Response & Layoff Aversion. Read more.
  15. Services – State Workforce Development Team (OMJ). Read more.
  16. Services – Workforce Development Boards (20). Read more.
  17. Tax – Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Read more.
  18. Training Grants & Solutions – Community Colleges (23). Read list.
  19. Training Grants & Solutions – Career & Technical Schools (70+). Read list.
  20. Training Grants – JobsOhio Workforce Grant. Read more.
  21. Training Grants – TechCred. Read more.
  22. Training Grants – WIOA Incumber Worker Training funds. Read more.
  23. Training Grants – WIOA On-the-Job Training funds. Read more.
  24. Workers’ Comp – Drug-Free Safety Grant. Read more.
  25. Workers’ Comp – Safety Councils (BWC). Read more.
  26. Workers’ Comp – Safety Intervention Grant. Read more.
  27. Youth – Business Advisory Councils (110). Read more.
  28. Youth – Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camps. Example (Mid-Ohio ESC).
  29. Youth – Manufacturing Familiarization (Fam) Tour. Example (Highland Co).
  30. Youth – Manufacturing Showcase. Example (Sandusky Co).
  31. Youth – Student (Reverse) Job Fair. Example (Meigs Co).
  32. Youth – YouScience. Example (Springfield).

Incentives & Funding

  1. Grants (Electric) – Utility Grant Program. Example (AEP Rate Stabilization Grant).
  2. Grants (Export) – IMAGE Export Grant. Read more.
  3. Grants & Finance (Rail) – Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC). Read more.
  4. Grants (Roadwork) – Jobs & Commerce Funds. Read more.
  5. Grants (Roadwork) – Roadwork Development Funds. Read more.
  6. Grants (Roadwork) – Transportation Improvement District (TID). Read more.
  7. Grants – JobsOhio Economic Development Grant. Read more.
  8. Grants – JobsOhio Small Business Grant. Read more.
  9. Grants – Ohio Meat Processing Grant. Read more.
  10. Finance – 166 Direct Loan. Read more.
  11. Finance – JobsOhio Growth Fund Loan. Read more.
  12. Finance – Ohio Air Quality Development Authority. Read more.
  13. Finance – Ohio Enterprise Bond Fund. Read more.
  14. Finance – Ohio Minority Business Direct Loan. Read more.
  15. Finance – PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Financing. Read more.
  16. Finance – Port Bond Fund / Central Ohio Bond Fund. Read more.
  17. Finance – Port Bond Fund / Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Bond Fund. Read more.
  18. Finance – Port Bond Fund / Northwest Ohio Bond Fund. Read more.
  19. Finance – Port Bond Fund / Summit County Jobs & Investment Bond Fund. Read more.
  20. Finance – Port Bond Fund / Southwest Ohio Regional Bond Fund. Read more.
  21. Finance – Port Authority Conduit/Capital Lease Financing. Example (Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority).
  22. Finance – Revolving Loan Funds (Local/Regional). Example (OVRDC).
  23. Finance – SBA 504 Loan. Read more.
  24. Finance – USDA Business & Industry Loan Guarantee. Read more.
  25. Finance – Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Fund. Read more.
  26. Permitting – Expedited Permitting Programs. Example (City of Groveport).
  27. Tax (Income) – Municipal Income Tax Credits. Example (City of Sidney).
  28. Tax (Income) – Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit. Read more.
  29. Tax (Property) – Ohio Enterprise Zone Program. Read more.
  30. Tax (Property) – Community Reinvestment Program. Read more.
  31. Tax (Sales) – Port Authority Sales Tax Incentives. Example (Clermont County).
  32. Tax (Tariffs) – Foreign Trade Zone. Read more.
  33. Utility (Tap) Fee Waivers – Example (City of Warren).

New – Innovation Hubs

  1. NE | Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub. Read more.
  2. NW | Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub. Read more.
  3. W | onMain Innovation Hub. Read more.