Swearingen Announces $155M in Business Assistance Programs

Designed to support Ohio restaurants, entertainment venues, lodging, and new small businesses

June 29, 2021

COLUMBUS – State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) today announced applications are now open for $155 million in business grant programs to help Ohio industries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant programs were made possible by Senate Bills 108 and 109, legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly. Swearingen introduced companion legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives as House Bill 169.

The grant programs include the following:

$100 million for the Food and Beverage Establishment Grant
$20 million for the Entertainment Venue Grant
$25 million for the Lodging Grant
$10 million for the New Small Business Relief Grant

The grant relief programs for Ohio restaurants, entertainment venues, and lodging provides $10K, $20K, or $30K grants based off of percentage of revenue loss from 2019 revenue compared to 2020 revenue. The new small businesses grant program provides $10K grants to new Ohio small businesses established on or after January 1, 2020.

“I am thrilled to announce applications for these grant programs are now available,” said Swearingen. “I strongly encourage our local businesses to apply for this assistance so we can help promote the survival and stability of these vital Ohio industries.”

Swearingen noted that to ensure the grants are spread throughout the state, a certain amount of funding will be set aside for industries in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.

All four programs will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. Program guidelines, terms and conditions, and required documentation are available at https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/. For questions, please email BusinessHelp@Development.Ohio.Gov.