Background:

Federal legislation passed in recent years has the potential of creating transformational change across the country. Grants are available nationally to upgrade our aging electric grid, capture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create major regional technology hubs, create clean hydrogen hubs, clean up brownfield sites, and rebuild intercity passenger rail outside the Northeast Corridor.

The opportunity for Ohio is to be able to take on and complete infrastructure and technology projects that will strengthen the state’s economy and lay the base for decades of enhanced prosperity. Grants are not for continuation of existing projects, but rather for adoption of major new projects that could not even be considered without these federal resources. Every part of the state stands to benefit, and the federal programs put special emphasis on areas that are historically challenged economically.

 Because of the magnitude of the projects and investments to be made, federal grant makers are expected to strongly favor applications that are private-sector driven, and that have broad, committed support of businesses, universities, local and state governments, economic development organizations, and major non-profits, including charitable non-profits.

Business Response:

To seize the opportunity presented by the unprecedented federal programs, a group of leading Ohio business organizations has collaborated to form the Ohio Grants Alliance (OGA) to serve as a resource to potential grant applicants. OGA will identify and promote grant opportunities, convene coalition partners, facilitate cross-regional coalitions, provide subject matter expertise, obtain up-to-date intelligence on the preferences of federal agencies making grants, and generally serve as a promoter of Ohio applications. OGA’s goal is to maximize benefit to Ohio from the federal grant programs by making Ohio applications the best they can be.

OGA founders include the Ohio Business Roundtable, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Cincinnati Business Committee, Columbus Partnership, Appalachian Partnership, Regional Growth Partnership, and Dayton Development Coalition.