Monica Womack
Manager
Minority Business Development Division
(614) 728-0088
The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) Minority Business Development Division (MBDD) supports the growth and sustainability of small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio.
Supporting these businesses means providing them with resources that include technical and professional assistance, access to capital, surety bonding, and connection to business opportunities through the assistance of the Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC). The Division leverages these resources to support the achievement of the state's 15% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)set-aside goal, which is overseen by the Department of Administrative Services.
The Division works with entrepreneurs, and emerging business enterprises to help them achieve, scale, and market success. The overarching goal is to help small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses contribute to job creation and economic growth in Ohio.
The Centers provide the following services:
Their primary goal is to identify emerging minority-owned businesses and cultivate their growth and sustainability. Professional MBAC staff work with owners of existing businesses, start-ups, certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), certified Encouraging Diversity Growth and Equity (EDGE) and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
These services are available without cost to businesses located throughout Ohio.
MBEs are defined as businesses that are at least 51 percent or more owned and controlled by one of the following groups: African American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian American.
EDGE certified businesses are defined as enterprises that are owned by economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
Contact your local Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) and schedule an appointment to meet with a trained business counselor. These services are available with no cost to businesses located throughout Ohio.
■ Summit County
Akron Community Service Center and Urban League
440 Vernon Odom Boulevard
Akron, Ohio 44307
(234) 542-4145
♦ Stark County
Southeast Community Center
Minority Business Association Center
1400 Sherrick Road
Canton, Ohio 44707
(234) 542-4145
■ Hamilton County
The Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce
2945 Gilbert Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
(513) 751-9900
♦ Pike County
The Ohio State University South Centers
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon, Ohio 45661
(513) 751-9900
■ Cuyahoga County
Urban League of Greater Cleveland
2930 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 622-0999
♦ Lorain County
Lorain County Urban League
200 Middle Avenue
Suite 200
Elyria, Ohio 44035
(440) 323-3362
■ Franklin County
Columbus Urban League
788 Mount Vernon Avenue
Columbus, Ohio
(614) 372-2358
♦ Athens County
Ohio University Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs
Building 19, The Ridges
Athens, Ohio 45701
(614) 372-2358
■ Montgomery County
City of Dayton, Human Relations Council
371 West Second Street, Suite 100
Dayton, Ohio 45402
(937) 333-1033
■ Lucas County
University of Toledo
2145 East Scott Park Drive
Faculty Annex Building
Toledo, Ohio 43607
(419) 530-3344
♦ Defiance County
Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce
325 Clinton Street
Defiance, Ohio 43512
(419) 530-3344
♦ Allen County
Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce
144 South Main Street
Lima, Ohio 45801
(419) 530-3344
♦ Mahoning County
Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI)
241 West Federal Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
(330) 884-6053
■ Trumbull County
Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center
125 West Market Street
Warren, Ohio 44481
(330) 779-1859