JobsOhio Relocation Incentive

JobsOhio Relocation Incentive

Funds Ohio hiring initiatives that attract highly skilled talent through relocation support for technical and STEM roles.

The JobsOhio Relocation Incentive is a per-hire cash grant paid to Ohio employers who recruit out-of-state STEM and technical workers to permanently relocate to Ohio. JobsOhio, Ohio's private economic development organization, administers the program on a rolling, first-come-first-served basis from a fixed pool, notifying enrolled employers when the pool reaches 90% depletion. The program targets employers in ten defined industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Aviation, Automotive, Energy and Chemicals, Financial Services, Food and Agribusiness, Healthcare, Logistics and Distribution, Military and Federal contracting, and Technology.

The incentive pays $15,000 per qualifying hire, with a lifetime maximum of $225,000 per company — equivalent to 15 hires. Each qualifying worker must be an out-of-state resident at the time of hire, must establish permanent Ohio residency, and must be permanently authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Recent college graduates and transitioning military personnel who are non-Ohio residents count as eligible hires. Retail businesses are explicitly excluded. Companies must document a three-year historical baseline of out-of-state STEM hiring and demonstrate that each new hire exceeds that baseline; the incremental nature of the hire is a hard requirement.

The application process takes approximately 30 minutes in a single online session and requires submission of company information, targeted industry classification, and the historical baseline data. Upon approval, a legal agreement is executed, and funds are disbursed within approximately 30 days of the employer's disbursement request after the qualifying hire begins work. Grant funds are unrestricted in use. Employers should apply and receive approval before the hire starts to secure their position in the first-come-first-served queue.