Three Cincinnati firms are the newest beneficiaries of a JobsOhio's grant program designed to give small businesses resources they need to grow.
On Wednesday, Aug. 23, REDI Cincinnati revealed Gotara, Remote Vans and Automated Machine Systems have received JobsOhio Inclusion Grants. The size of each grant was not disclosed.
Kevin Donnelly, vice president of project management for REDI Cincinnati, said in a news release the recipients "are a good reflection of our great business climate."
To qualify for the grants, companies must be at least 51% minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned or owned by an individual with a disability or located within a "distressed" ZIP code. They must also have been operational for at least one year and generate at least $100,000 in annual revenues.
Here's a look at each of the recipients:
- Gotara, a Cincy Inno Fire Award finalist, was launched in 2020 by D. Sangeeta, who left her VP role at Amazon to enter the entrepreneurial world. The platform aims to upskill, mentor and coach female workers in STEM fields – ultimately looking to ease the high burnout rate. Gotara recently participated in Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub’s ElevateEquity cohort, aimed at founders looking to address systemic inequities via entrepreneurship, and is approaching a major sales milestone with a budding customer base.
- Remote Vans was launched by Tony Alexander, former general manager for the Brandery, and his business partner Daryn Hillhouse. The 2-year-old company converts premium vans so its users can work anywhere they desire, capitalizing on the "work-from-anywhere" trend that grew out of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company relocated to St. Bernard to new facilities where Alexander hopes to triple its output.
- Automated Machine Systems, based in Woodlawn, is a 23-year-old manufacturer founded by CEO Guy O'Gara. The company creates machines for the manufacturing industry designed to boost productivity through automation. The company was a finalist for the Courier's Best Places to Work program in 2021.
The number of jobs expected to be created from the individual grants was not disclosed. However, REDI's use of the JobsOhio grant program has supported 57 projects, creating 422 new jobs, $22.6 million in new payroll and $8.7 million in capital investment, the release states.
