Your Small Business Resource RoundUp
Calendar: Stay Up-to-Date on Workshops & Networking Events
Explore these calendars to find upcoming educational workshops and networking opportunities designed to help you grow and connect.
FEATURED EVENTS
10/22 Hamilton County Pitch & Empower Event at Memorial Hall- Register Now
10/28 Women's Small Biz Monthly Breakfast- Register Now
Applications for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses January 2026 Cohort now open
Dec 12-13 Halle-Bration Citywide Holiday Celebration & Gift Mall- Save the DATE
OTHER EVENT CALENDARS
New ECDI Loan Product - Express Loan
EXPRESS LOAN qualifications:
Business must be open and active (generating revenue) for a minimum of 6 months
640 minimum personal credit score required (TransUnion)
Businesses cannot have existing ECDI debt
Must meet additional ECDI and SBA eligibility requirements
Only available to businesses located in Ohio
Why Employers Should Use Ohio’s TechCred Program
Ohio’s TechCred program helps employers stay competitive by upskilling their workforce for today’s technology-driven economy. Businesses can be reimbursed up to $2,000 per employee for completing approved, industry-recognized tech credentials—making it a cost-effective way to boost productivity, innovation, and employee retention. Upskilling current and future team members builds confidence, fills skill gaps faster than hiring, and creates a culture of growth that attracts top talent. With TechCred, employers invest in their people while preparing their business for the future—stronger, smarter, and ready for what’s next.
Key Dates and Funding Window
Next Ohio TechCred Application Deadline: September 30, 2025
Award Announcements: September or October 2025
Eligible training costs can be covered for expenses incurred from August 1, 2025, through 12 months after your award date
Who Qualifies for Training Reimbursement?
Current and prospective W-2 employees
Ohio resident with a verifiable Ohio address
Any Ohio-registered business with W-2 employees who live in Ohio can apply. Companies of all sizes and industries are encouraged to apply. See below:
Only one application per company will be accepted
Maximum reimbursement is $30,000 per year for each eligible employer
Employers may be reimbursed up to $2,000 per credential for tuition, lab fees, manuals, textbooks and certification costs
Funding Resources
CDFI Loan Participation Program
American Express Backing Small Business Grants
African American Chamber 2025 Grant List
Better Banking for Small Businesses: Building a Strong Relationship with Your Bank
For many small businesses in Hamilton County, being underbanked is a reality. You may have a checking account, but not a true banking relationship that helps your business grow. The right bank can be more than a place to deposit checks-it can be a partner in your success.
Help Improve What’s Known about Small Businesses: Survey Now Open
The Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and Alloy Development Co. is a partner in this effort. Owners and key financial decision-makers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences about whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. Take the 12-minute survey now.
State of Ohio Resources
Ohio’s TechCred Program gives employers the chance to upskill
current and future employees. Employers who submit successful
applications will be reimbursed up to $2,000 per credential when
employees complete eligible technology-focused credentials.
The Ohio Common Sense Initiative's (CSI) mission is to make Ohio the most business and job-friendly state in the Midwest by eliminating laws and regulations that are frivolous, duplicative, or have not caught up with the speed of business and technology.