The SCEDC is excited to invite you to our 2021 Investor Networking Event at The Garrison in Fremont! This event will take place from 4:00p.m. until 6:00p.m. in the Beer Garden. Heavy appetizers and drinks will be provided. We hope you can join us!

Please RSVP by August 26th to Andrea at [email protected]..
Carbo Forge Investing $1.1M in Programable Hammer
Carbo Forge, a steel forging company, has announced their recent capital investment of approximately $1.1 million into its 150 SR 523 facility in Fremont, Ohio.

Carbo Forge IATF16949 is a forging company that supplies steel forging to machine shops with value-added services. Their Zero-Defect Policy ensures that their customers receive the highest quality forgings possible by consistently improving forging quality through the exceptional standards held by their employee-owners.

Carbo Forge is 100% employee-owned and prides itself on maintaining a tenured and skilled workforce who utilize world-class operating efficiencies to supply an array of markets with carbon, alloy, and stainless-steel forgings weighing up to 15 pounds.

“Carbo Forge will be installing a new programable hammer later this month” stated Rick Egbert, Vice President, and CFO at Carbo Forge. “This new technology will retain up to 8 jobs and allow for a much smaller learning curve for newer operators to be able to run and maintain it”. It will also allow us to control the amount of energy used in each blow in the forging process.

Carbo Forge is an acknowledged leader in the United States being the first forging company in North America to be TS16949 certified (an internationally recognized Quality Management System specification for the automotive industry) and implementing ERP total solutions such as Plex, and incorporating 6 Sigma oversight into process evaluation.

“Sandusky County is fortunate to have a company like Carbo Forge located within our county” stated Beth Hannam, Executive Director of the Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation. “We are excited to hear about their continued investment with new machinery and equipment, their investment within their employees, and their investment within the county”.
JFS - Refusal to Return to Work Policy and Form
Having issues at your business with community members not showing up for interviews, orientations, or first day on the job?

Did you know that you can report these cases to Job and Family Services and alert unemployment that they are not following their Return to Work policies?

For more information about the Return to Work Policy, Click Here.
To view the Eligibility Notice/Refusal to Return to Work Form, Click Here.
Community Navigator Program
The Community Navigator Pilot Program is designed to provide high quality support and assistance with pandemic relief programs and recovery services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Recovery services can include financial assistance, access to capital supports, contracting and procurement assistance, marketing, operations, and business development, export and importing, and industry specific training, among other areas of technical assistance to aid businesses in stabilization and expansion. Programming that focuses on supporting communities where English is a second language and that offers technical assistance in languages other than English is encouraged.

Who is eligible to apply for a Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant? • A Nonprofit having a 501(c) status with the IRS. • County governments. • State governments. • City or township governments. • SBA Resource Partners: o Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). o Women’s Business Centers. 2 o Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE); and • Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs). • Community Development Financial Institutions. • Nonprofit Colleges and Universities.

For more information, click here.
Ohio Launches New Grant Programs for Small Businesses
The state of Ohio began accepting applications on Tuesday, June 29, for four grant programs that target businesses that have suffered significant losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The Ohio Development Services Agency will administer the grants. More information about these programs is available online at BusinessHelp.Ohio.gov, including each grant program’s terms and conditions, fact sheets, and frequently asked questions.

The programs are:
  • Food and Beverage Establishment Grant: This program will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other food and drinking businesses. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020.
  • Entertainment Venue Grant: This program will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to theaters, music venues, spectator sports venues, museums, and other entertainment venues. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020.
  • Lodging Grant: This program will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast operations. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ decline in occupancy rate in 2020.
  • New Small Business Grant: This program will provide grants of $10,000 to small businesses that were established between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020.

Each program will require applicants to have an OH|ID. For help with that process, click here.

Terra State Creating Our Region's Future
RSVP at 419.559.2261o attend one of the events.
Bellevue Newsletter
There has been a lot going on in Bellevue lately. Click Here to read the City of Bellevue's July Newsletter.
WOSB Federal Contracting Program and Ascent Programs for Women
Are you a woman-owned business interested in learning more about the Woman-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program and the new Ascent Program?

  • Then please join us to find out more about what you need to do and how to apply to get certified as a woman-owned business for selling to the Federal government.

In addition, learn about the new Ascent Program, which is an online digital learning platform for women-owned small businesses. This platform gives women small business owners the resources they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses.
8(a) Business Development Program
Join the Northern Ohio SBA District Office and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to learn more about the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program. This webinar will examine:
  • What is the 8a business development program?
  • Who can participate in the program?
  • What are the benefits?
  • How to apply?
  • Is there a time limit?
  • And much more!
There will also be a special presentation from an 8(a) firm to share their experience and success in this business development program!

Wednesday, August 18, 2021: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
TechCred Started August 1st
Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, announced today that Ohio businesses looking to upskill their workforce can begin applying for the tenth round of TechCred on August 1st. The application period will close on August 31st.

“The TechCred program continues to help individuals earn new skills that give them more job security and greater earning potential,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Ohio businesses benefit as well. They get the talent they need to innovate, grow and compete in a tech-infused economy.”
Since the start of the program, a total of 1,310 Ohio employers have been approved for TechCred, which will fund up to 23,723 tech-focused credentials to upskill Ohio workers. The results of the June round, which closed on June 30th, will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Having a workforce with advanced skills is critical to the success of Ohio businesses and the Ohio economy,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Credentials earned through TechCred will help both employees and businesses prepare for a brighter future.”
TechCred asks employers to identify the specific skills they need and the number of employees they want to upskill toward a more advanced position. Then, in partnership with a training provider, the employer can apply online at TechCred.Ohio.gov and the state will reimburse up to $2,000 for the training upon completion of a credential.

“The DeWine-Husted Administration’s new biennial budget continues to focus on student-centered education policies that address affordability and accessibility of higher education and brighten Ohio’s economic future,” said Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. “That includes a continued commitment to the TechCred program, one of Ohio’s most successful business-education partnerships.”

The recently passed State Operating Budget funds an additional 40,000 technology-focused credentials through the TechCred Program (including IMAP, the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program) in Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023.

Learn more about the program by visiting TechCred.Ohio.Gov.
 
Questions about TechCred? Contact the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation at [email protected].