Grant Funding for Four Small Business Grant program STILL AVAILABLE

Millions of dollars remain available for four new grant programs that target small businesses–which are the businesses hardest hit by the pandemic.

The Ohio Department of Development is administering the grants. To apply, businesses can visit the For Businesses section at BusinessHelp.Ohio.gov. The site includes documents for each grant program’s terms and conditions, fact sheet, and frequently asked questions.

Each program requires applicants to have an OH|ID. Register at OH|ID (ohid.ohio.gov) by creating an account with a username/password. For help with the process, click here.

Applications opened June 29 and will remain open until funds are exhausted. The Small Business Development Center at Ohio University is a great resource for businesses looking to apply.

19 E. Circle Drive, The Ridges, Suite 110
Athens, Ohio 45701
740-593-1797

The four available grant programs are as listed:

Food and Beverage Establishment Grant – $200 million
This program provides grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other food and drinking businesses. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses is determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020.
To ensure the grants are spread throughout the state, $500,000 is set aside for businesses in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. As businesses in each county are approved for funding, the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. When a county’s allocation is depleted, businesses in that county will be eligible to receive grants from the remaining funds in the overall grant program. If businesses in a county don’t deplete the county’s allocation by July 31, the remaining funds will become available to businesses statewide.

Entertainment Venue Grant – $40 million
This program provides grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 theaters, music venues, spectator sports venues, museums, and other entertainment venues. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020.
To ensure the grants are spread throughout the state, $150,000 will be set aside for businesses in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. As businesses in each county are approved for funding, the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. When a county’s allocation is depleted, businesses in that county will be eligible to receive grants from the remaining funds in the overall grant program. If businesses in a county don’t deplete the county’s allocation by July 31, the remaining funds will become available to businesses statewide.

Lodging Grant – $50 million
This program provides grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast operations. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ decline in occupancy rate in 2020.
To ensure the grants are spread throughout the state, $100,000 is set aside for businesses in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. As businesses in each county are approved for funding, the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. When a county’s allocation is depleted, businesses in that county will be eligible to receive grants from the remaining funds in the overall grant program. If businesses in a county don’t deplete the county’s allocation by July 31, the remaining funds will become available to businesses statewide.

New Small Business Grant – $20 million
This program provides grants of $10,000 to small businesses that were established between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020.
To ensure the grants are spread throughout the state, $100,000 will be set aside for businesses in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. As businesses in each county are approved for funding, the $10,000 grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. When a county’s allocation is depleted, businesses in that county will be eligible to receive grants from the remaining funds in the overall grant program. If businesses in a county don’t deplete the county’s allocation by July 31, the remaining funds will become available to businesses statewide.