Ohio
State Resources
Ohio has the distinction of being the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. A major center of manufacturing, steel, and automotive production, especially in cities like Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio is also home to major companies in aerospace, healthcare, and technology, including the NASA Glenn Research Center and the Wright – Patterson Air Force base. The state also brags of ownership of the Cleveland Clinic, one of the major hospitals in the world, and houses the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Department of Development works to support Ohio’s businesses, large and small, as they maneuver in the global economy. The Department assists companies in all stages of growth “whether established in the state and looking to expand, a technology company ready to move from the lab to commercialization, or an entrepreneur establishing a new small retail business though grants such as the Early Stage Focus Fund and Ohio Venture Fund.” The Department of Development though the Development’s Office of Technology Investments administers both of these programs through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Funding has been provided through the SSBCI to both the Early Stage Focus Fund and the Ohio Venture Fund. In turn, these entities have made awards to the following venture firms to use in making equity investments in OH. According to a 2024 article in a publication called Purpose Jobs, The Ohio Early Stage Focus Fund provided funding to Rev1 Ventures (Columbus, Franklin County); Bold Opportunities Fund I, LLC (Westerville, Franklin County), JumpStart Ventures (Cleveland, Cuyahoga County).
Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Managed by the Development’s Office of Technology Investments, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP) is a State and Federal initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ohio MEP helps Ohio’s small and medium-sized manufacturers to increase sales, create jobs and generate cost savings through technological innovation, workforce training and improved management practices.
DoD and NASA Networking events
Ohio is the home to a number of DoD and NASA facilities including the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the NASA Glenn Research Center. These attract many conferences of note to Ohio and provide the opportunity for DoD and NASA SBIR/STTR awardees to network.
The DLA Supply Chain Alliance Symposium and Exhibition, June 2026 in Columbus, OH
Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space (NETS-2026), April 27-30, 2026 in Dayton, OH
