Ohio Microbusiness Development Program

Applications due October 24th

Questions?

View our informational session recording here. PowerPoint slides available here.
Still have questions? Attend our office hours on October 21st from 2pm-3pm. Join here. No presentation will be given.

Program Background

There are almost 28 million small businesses in the U.S. and over 22 million are microbusinesses defined as enterprises with fewer than five employees, including the owner. These businesses are sources of local and personal pride in their communities. The U.S. Small Business Administration found that since 1995, 2 out of every 3 new jobs created have come from small businesses. They are indeed the backbone of the economy, but many entrepreneurs lack access to traditional banking resources.

Program Information

The Ohio Microbusiness Development Program provides funding for OCDCA nonprofit members that offer microbusiness development programs to further develop a local delivery system for training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. Funded by the Ohio Department of Development, the program encourages microbusiness development, provides low- and moderate-income households with access to capital for business development and self-employment, and creates and retains long-term jobs in the private sector. The assistance enabled by this funding can be in the form of training, technical assistance, or direct assistance to the business in the form of an Individual Development Account (IDA).

2024 Program Stats:

Households assisted: 2,513

Enrolled in training: 2,303

Completed training: 1,985

TA consultations: 2,445

Businesses assisted: 1,726

Businesses started: 277

Business expansions: 364

Jobs created/retained: 526

LMI individuals served: 524

Funding

Funding for the Ohio Microbusiness Development Program comes from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) through the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Funding for the Individual Development Accounts comes from the U.S. Bank Foundation.

List of Current Partner Sites

ACEnet
Service Area: Appalachia Ohio (32 counties)

Adams Brown Community Action Partnership
Service Area: Adams and Brown counties

African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE)
Service Area: Franklin County

CleveLawn
Service Area: Greater Cleveland

Columbus Empowerment Service Area: Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties

Community Action Committee of Pike County
Service Area: Pike County

CO-OP Dayton
Service Area: Montgomery, Prebble, Greene, and Clark counties

Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI)
Service Area: Statewide

Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI)
Service Area: Cincinnati and Hamilton County

Intentional Development Group
Service Area: Youngstown and Warren Metros

Metro West Community Development Organization
Service Area: Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Centre, and Stockyards neighborhoods of Cleveland

MORTAR Cincinnati
Service Area: Cincinnati

Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development
Service Area: Greater Cleveland

Pyramid CDC
Service Area: South, North Linden, and Milo-Grogan neighborhoods of Columbus

Southern Perry Incubation Center (SPICE)
Service Area: Perry County

Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF)
Service Area: Butler County

The Well CDC
Service Area: Akron and Summit County

West Ohio Community Action Partnership
Service Area: Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer counties

Sponsored by US Bank and First Financial