On June 4, 2020, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted announced the formation of an Ohio Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program that will provide awards of up to $500,000 to small and medium-sized manufacturers so they can repurpose existing facilities to make PPE or reshore PPE production to Ohio. These grants will allow small manufacturers and other entities an opportunity to create new business while contributing to the fight against COVID-19.
Grant funds can be used to offset costs incurred to acquire equipment necessary to manufacture PPE, retool, or construct facilities in Ohio to manufacture PPE, (including, but not limited to, building costs, design/engineering costs, facility expansion, complying with FDA requirements) and technological upgrades. Only costs incurred after March 21, 2020, (date of Governor Mike DeWine’s state of emergency declaration in Ohio due to COVID-19) will be eligible for reimbursement.
The grant program will be funded with $20 million, and eligible manufacturers may be awarded grants of up to $500,000 per facility. Up to 20% of available funding may be reserved for manufacturers with fewer than 25 employees and registered nonprofits.
- The applicant must qualify as a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration (typically 500 employees or fewer) or be an established nonprofit.
- The applicant must be able to produce the PPE solely at an Ohio facility owned and operated by the applicant.
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The applicant must be one of the following:
- An existing manufacturer that either has retooled or is planning to retool its facility or otherwise modify its manufacturing operation to produce at least one type of PPE.
- A new manufacturing operation being established for the purpose of manufacturing at least one type of PPE.
- A nonprofit corporation that has undertaken or will undertake activities necessary to manufacture at least one type of PPE.
The Development Services Agency will administer the grant program in coordination with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, JobsOhio, and the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
For more information, visit the Ohio Development Services Agency’s website.