JobsOhio Inclusion Grant (JOIG)

JobsOhio Inclusion Grant — JOIG

Supports grants for minority women veteran and disability owned Ohio businesses or businesses in distressed communities.

The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant (JOIG) is a rolling grant program administered by JobsOhio that provides financial support to businesses owned by underrepresented populations or to businesses operating in designated distressed Ohio communities. Eligible owner categories include minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and disability-owned businesses. Companies located in distressed communities qualify regardless of ownership demographics. Since the program's inception, more than 460 Ohio companies have received JOIG awards, making it one of the more active inclusion-focused economic development programs in the state.

Eligible uses of grant funds span fixed-asset investment (machinery and equipment), real estate investment and redevelopment, and employee training costs. Award amounts are not publicly disclosed; they are determined through individual negotiation based on project scope, company size, and economic impact. Because there are no published floor or ceiling figures, applicants cannot size expectations from the program website alone and must engage directly with a regional partner to understand likely award parameters for their specific project. For-profit businesses and nonprofits are both eligible; universities, research organizations, and individuals are excluded. Companies must be located and operating in Ohio.

Applications are submitted through the seven regional JobsOhio Network economic development organizations (EDOs) that cover Ohio geographically, not directly through JobsOhio's main office. The same regional EDO network handles intake for the JobsOhio Small Business Grant and several other state incentive programs, so an applicant can consolidate conversations with one regional contact. Given ongoing national scrutiny of diversity-focused grant programs from 2024 through 2026, applicants should verify current program availability with their regional EDO before investing significant preparation time.