Top Small Business Grants for 2025 in Ohio

Ohio is a land replete with small businesses and innovative thinkers. There are approximately 1 million small businesses currently operating in the “Buckeye State,” accounting for 99.6% of all businesses in the state and employing up to 43.8% of all Ohioans. This metric means that the vast majority of Ohio-based businesses are considered small companies. 

Thanks to economic uncertainty throughout the nation, though, small businesses are especially at risk of failure due to inadequate funding, which endangers operating costs and impedes a business’s growth. Of course, this is most felt in the initial years of a business’s beginning, when it is challenging to keep the doors open. Thankfully, small business grants are one way to fund small business ventures that do not require payback, and therefore, do not heap even more pressure on small business owners to turn a profit immediately. 

Small businesses are what built the backbone of America, and they are just as important, if not more so, to today’s economy as larger corporations. Therefore, all Ohio small business owners should learn as much as possible about the type of grants available for small businesses and how to go about gaining access to these funds. 

This informative piece will explain all about small business grants in Ohio and on the federal level as well. It will also outline how to best apply to them and information about eligibility. As a small business owner, business grants can be the way for you to achieve your dreams and fulfill your life goals. Read on to learn more: 

What are small business grants?

Before delving deeper into the specifics of types of small business grants, it’s helpful to understand what the term means overall. In short, a small business grant is a sum of money awarded or bestowed upon a business. This is usually given by a private organization, government, federally, or at the state level. This grant, termed “free money” by some, is just that, a sum of money that does not require repayment. 

While the thought of free money sounds appealing to virtually anyone, small business owner or entrepreneur included, it isn’t without some drawbacks. The primary one being that they can be difficult to get or qualify for due to immense competition among business owners. As you might imagine, when funds are available and do not require repayment, this gets a lot of attention.

The purpose of these grants, though, in addition to helping residents thrive by becoming business owners, is to provide support for specific projects and to achieve specific goals. For example, minority-owned businesses or small businesses within unique industries that might be struggling to thrive might have more opportunities to “win” grants or be awarded this funding. 

Ohio-specific grants

The following is a list of small business grants in Ohio. These are available to small business owners who currently reside in the state of Ohio or will be relocating into the state. The following are some of the most applicable for Ohio small businesses: 

Industry Sector Partnership Grant

The Ohio Department of Development administers the state’s Industry Sector Partnership grant, which is used to fund local business, education, collaborations and training. Visit the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation site for more information on this grant. It is designed to be used to build a strong workforce and to promote diversity in specific regions and sectors. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Applications for this grant are usually accepted in October. Grants awarded go up to $5,000,000 per year, including all recipients. Typical grant totals include $50,000-$100,000 in the Spark Grant category and $50,000-$250,000 in the Accelerant Grant.This grant is open to all emerging partnerships, including multiple private sector employers who are striving to achieve common workforce-related goals. This can include concentrating on a single industry sector or working to address issues or challenges across several sectors. 

Benefit Bridge Employer Pilot Program

Awarded by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, this program, called the Benefit Bridge Employer Pilot Program, helps individuals with government assistance when they get higher-paying jobs. Although this isn’t a grant for a small business owner necessarily, it can help a small business be more appealing to potential employees. Grant awards up to $5,000 per employer, with no more than $100,000 per employer. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

The deadline for application is June 30, 2025. To qualify for this program, a business must have been registered to do business in the Ohio Secretary of State for at least two years. All documentation related to participating employees and the company overall must be submitted. Other steps include a written intention to participate as well as a benefit replacement plan for employees along with a training program outline. Employees who participate must receive benefits like publicly funded childcare, Medicaid, Ohio Works First or SNAP. 

Ohio Meat Processing Grant

Offered by the Ohio Department of Development, this up to $500,000 grant provides funds to meat harvesting and processing facilities throughout Ohio for expansion and improvement purposes. Visit the Ohio Department of Development to apply and learn more about eligibility. Grant award is given to livestock and poultry producers within the state of Ohio. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Applications are most often accepted through June. Recipients must own or operate a meat processing and/or harvesting facility within the state to qualify for this grant. Businesses should have been in operation since at least July 1, 2023, and also must be a for-profit business in good standing with Ohio and government agencies. 

Federal Grants Available to Ohio Businesses

The following are grants available through the federal government for small businesses: 

Hiring Our Heroes

As a way to give back to those who have given so much, the Heroes Small Business Grant Program is awarded to veterans and their spouses to be used to grow and support their business growth. It is awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is designed to help those who gave to our country through military service. It is a grant of $10,000 per business.

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Applications are most often taken through April and businesses must be based in the United States and owned and operated by either a veteran or military spouse ( with at least 51% ownership as a for-profit business). Previous grant winners of the Hiring Our Heroes grant include businesses ranging from a landscaping company to an endurance sport event organizer. 

State Trade Expansions Program (STEP)

This grant, awarded by the Small Business Administration (SBA), was initially set up in 2011 to help businesses expand into international markets. It is a federally based program, but applicants will need to apply for this grant funding through their territory’s, government or state. Visit the Directory of STEP awardees for more information. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Grants for Ohio businesses through STEP include grants of $300,000 and $400,000. This includes covering costs related to reverse trade missions, export training workshops, translation fees, design of a media market, export initiatives, and participation in trade missions. 

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program

This is part of America’s Seed Fund, which is a federal government initiative designed to help small businesses advance through technological innovation. Small businesses using STTR funds must partner with a research institution to further develop their ideas. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Visit here for a complete list of the current agencies participating in the STTR program. The USDA, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED) are just a few of the many participating federal agencies. 

Corporate and private foundation grants

Many times, corporate businesses, non-profit organizations or foundations award grants to small businesses as a way of giving back to their communities or to honor someone’s memory or life. The following are some grants that fall into this category: 

JobsOhio Inclusion Grant (JOIG)

Based in Columbus, Ohio, the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant is a grant awarded to small and medium-sized businesses in distressed areas, or those owned by women, individuals with disabilities, people of color, or veterans. Businesses who are awarded the grant can get up to $50,000 in financial assistance. This can help grow an operation and promote ongoing diversity and opportunity. 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

To qualify, a business has to have been operating for at least a year and be within one of JobsOhio target industries. The application process is rolling, meaning business owners can apply for this at any time. Visit the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant website for more information on how to apply and to get started. Also, be ready to provide an eligible investment and overall plan on how the program’s support will be instrumental in moving forward as a small business owner. 

Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund

This grant is awarded by a small business platform Hello Alice and DoorDash. This grant awards $10,000 to qualifying small businesses who get chosen for the relief. The Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund was designed to help small businesses overcome setbacks brought on by a disaster.

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

Businesses must be a restaurant, gastropub, or bakery that has a brick-and-mortar location within the United States. They must also have experienced significant losses of revenue due to a weather event or an infrastructure failure within the past 12 months. The deadline for applying for this grant is rolling, meaning there isn’t a set deadline. 

The Amber Grant

Named in honor of Amber Wigdahl, who passed away at the age of 19, the Amber Grant Foundation was founded by Women’sNet in 1988. It is designed to help female entrepreneurs to fund their small businesses. Grant amounts range between $10,000 monthly to $25,000 annually. Visit Women’sNet for more information on this grant (note that this grant does have an application fee of $15.) 

Application process and grant details: tips and practices 

The deadline for applying for the Amy Grant is the last day of each month. To qualify, business owners have to be a female aged 18 years and older and have a business that is at least 50% woman-owned and operated in either the United States or Canada. 

Conclusion

America is made up of individuals striving to achieve the ultimate dream of success. Often, this begins with the successful operation of a small business. Thankfully, there are funding options that don’t require business owners to take on debt in order to get up and running. Small business grants can provide the resources needed to launch, grow, or stabilize operations without added financial strain.

The examples outlined above highlight the many opportunities available to Ohio entrepreneurs. Whether you are just learning how to start your own business or looking to scale an established venture, the right grant can make all the difference. Take time to explore your options, prepare strong applications, and pursue the funding that can help turn your business goals into reality.