For Immediate Release: June 23, 2021
Contact: Dan Bowerman at (614) 728-0989, Dan.Bowerman@development.ohio.gov
Minority-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses throughout Ohio can help their businesses grow through professional advice and services from a network of assistance centers across the state.
The Ohio Development Services Agency has selected seven partners to operate Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC) to serve minority and disadvantaged businesses in every county in Ohio. Each center is staffed with trained business advisors who can provide no-cost counseling to polish business practices and help businesses grow and create jobs.
“Ohio Minority Business Assistance Centers have experienced unprecedented demand for their services over the past 15 months, and these seven partners will continue to help small businesses succeed in this difficult environment,” Development Director Lydia Mihalik said. “These businesses are critical to Ohio’s economic success, and our MBAC advisors are there to help them thrive.”
The MBAC program is managed by Development’s Minority Business Development Division.
“Our MBACs play a vital role in assisting our minority business owners with business development by helping them start, grow, and sustain their businesses,” said Jeffrey L. Johnson, Chief of the Minority Business Development Division. “We are excited to partner with these host organizations to continue this great work.”
The centers support minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses by offering no-cost counseling, state certification support, and trainings focused on creating jobs and increasing sales. Trained advisors at the centers also provide clients with access to capital and assistance with procuring government contracts.
Partners of the MBAC program consist of nonprofit organizations, economic development organizations, and educational institutions with strong experience in business and economic development.
Awarded Recipients:
Akron: Akron Urban League, akronurbanleague.org
Cincinnati: African American Chamber of Commerce Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, african-amercanchamber.com
Cleveland: Urban League of Greater Cleveland, ulcleveland.org
Columbus: Columbus Urban League, cul.org
Dayton: City of Dayton, Human Relations Council, daytonhrc.org
Toledo: The Institute for Social Justice at Union Institute & University and Mays & Associates, myunion.edu/social-justice and maysassociatesltd.com
Youngstown: Youngstown Business Incubator, ybi.org
The awards followed a request-for-proposals process. Contracts with the partners will be for two years, from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.
For more information about the Minority Business Assistance Centers, visit minority.ohio.gov and click on Minority Business Assistance Centers.
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