The Ohio Development Services Agency has selected seven partners to operate Minority Business Assistance Centers to serve minority and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio.
The centers offer no-cost counseling, state certification support and training focused on creating jobs and increasing sales.
Trained advisors at the centers also provide clients with access to capital and assistance with procuring government contracts, the development agency said in a statement.
Nonprofit organizations, economic development organizations, and educational institutions with experience in business and economic development partner with the Minority Business Assistance Centers (MBAC), the agency said.
Northern Ohio award recipients are:
- Akron: Akron Urban League.
- Cleveland: Urban League of Greater Cleveland.
- Toledo: The Institute for Social Justice at Union Institute & University and Mays & Associates.
- Youngstown: Youngstown Business Incubator.
"Ohio Minority Business Assistance Centers have experienced unprecedented demand for their services over the past 15 months, and these seven partners will continue to help small businesses succeed in this difficult environment," Development Director Lydia Mihalik said in a statement.
The MBAC program is managed by the development agency's Minority Business Development Division.
Our MBACs play a vital role in helping minority business owners start, grow and sustain their businesses, said Jeffrey Johnson, chief of the Minority Business Development Division, in a statement.
